Executives are tasked with making complex decisions that impact the entire organization. The weight of these choices can lead to endless debates, analysis paralysis, and a cycle known as pushing the rock around the tree. While considering context and alternatives is critical, at some point, you must make the call and move forward—because there is no perfect decision.
The Cost of Indecision
Imagine your leadership team is designing a new bonus plan. You’ve identified the need: the current incentive design isn’t driving the right behaviors, and employees are disengaged. So, you gather input, analyze market data, and benchmark against competitors. Then comes the debate:
Should we emphasize individual performance or team performance?
What’s the right payout frequency—quarterly or annually?
Do we tie bonuses to financial performance or operational metrics? Or do we tie the bonus to both?
Each option has pros and cons. Tying bonuses to financial performance aligns incentives with company success, but operational metrics can be more within an employee’s control. Annual payouts simplify administration, but quarterly payouts keep motivation and focus high. The team discusses, revises, and debates again. Weeks pass. Then months. The rollout gets pushed. Employees lose trust. The opportunity to drive impact fades.
The Power of a Decision
Instead of endlessly refining, great leaders evaluate, decide, and execute. The best approach is to:
Gather input, but don’t seek universal agreement. Alignment is the goal, not consensus.
Frame the decision around the business objective. What outcome matters most?
Consider the key trade-offs, then commit. Perfection is a myth; effectiveness is what counts.
Communicate the rationale and adapt as needed. Once launched, refine based on real-world results—not theoretical discussions.
In the bonus plan example, instead of chasing the perfect model, the team decides:
Bonuses will be based 70% on company financials and 30% on individual performance.
Payouts will be quarterly to reinforce a culture of accountability.
The structure will be reviewed annually for effectiveness.
Decision made. Plan launched. Now, the focus shifts to execution and continuous improvement.
Move Forward, Don’t Look Back
Once a decision is made, resist the temptation to dwell on what could have been. The best leaders don’t waste energy on regret. They adapt and optimize. If issues arise, adjust. But progress only happens when you stop debating and start acting.
Leaders have the power to drive business impact—but only if they choose to lead decisively. Stop pushing the rock around the tree. Make the call, communicate it to those impacted, and move forward.
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