“I really don’t care if they disagree with this new policy. This is my company, and I’m in charge of making sure we are profitable, secure, and growing. It’s my responsibility to make these decisions, and this is what I need them to do.”
This is true. The owner and C-Suite execs are in charge of making sure the company is successful. It is their job to make decisions to ensure that happens. And I believe employees and team members want us to be decision-makers and to implement and enforce the policies that will help the company, clients, and employees thrive. I also believe that if we want our people to contribute, innovate, and buy-in to new ideas and policies, we would be well served to get their opinions and ideas.
This is not the same as letting them decide. Asking, “How would you approach this?” or “What are your ideas for how we should solve this challenge?” will create a sense of respect, collaboration, and personal interest that serves the project and the objective. It demonstrates that we understand they may have a different and valuable perspective that we can’t see and that we believe they are smart, capable, and important professionals.
In my experience, my team understands and expects that, as an owner, I will be making the ultimate decision about what we will commit to, policies we will adopt, goals we will set, products and services we will offer, and directions we will take. However, I find they are much more likely to get behind an initiative or decision if they feel I have at least listened to and genuinely considered their points of view. They want to feel that their voice and perspective matters, and if I end up making a choice that is different than what they would have, I find they are still willing to get behind it and support it.
So, at the end of the day, YES, I do believe their opinions matter and are often helpful in allowing me to make the most well thought out decisions for my clients, my team, and my company.
“Leaders who don’t listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say.”
~ Andy Stanley
