Communicating Decisions Well is Key to their Acceptance

Mahatma Gandhi was so insightful when he said 'The future depends on what we do in the present'. And there are so many things we can do! At every minute of the day there are multiple choices. Deciding whether to do one thing or another and trying to work out the consequences can drive us to distraction, but the decision we make ultimately depends on our objectives. However, there are further complications when we take other people's objectives into account. Our partners usually have very different ideas as to what we spend our money on, for example!

In business, decision-making can be fraught, because you have to live with your decisions. But the way in which you communicate your decisions also has an impact on your future, because both verbal and non-verbal communications contribute to the way in which you and your decisions are perceived. Being open, honest, calm and rational can make the difference between  your decisions being perceived as reasonable and worthwhile and you being perceived as a true leader.

No-one likes being shouted at and told what to do. Why? Because it triggers our emotion centres and causes the release of stress hormones, making us want to run away from the situation, slap the person who is shouting at us or freeze in fear. Sometimes even being asked to do something elicits the same response because we are conditioned to think the worse of requests - our childhood is filled with requests and orders to do things we don't particularly like doing such as tidy our bedrooms rather than invitations to go out and play with our friends. However, if we are asked our opinion about a situation and invited to suggest how we would solve the problem before being presented with the decision which has already been made, then we are much more likely to accept it rather than rebel against it.

Being sensitive to others is a necessary quality of being a good leader. For some, leadership comes easy, but others need training and coaching. Emotional Intelligence and Mindfulness sessions are key skills which can ensure your management and staff not only make the right decisions but communicate them effectively to.