In the darkness, it is always easier to see once you
have some light. Objects come into focus
and you are able to manoeuver your way around.
When the light is limited, so is your ability to
make judgments that are appropriate about your environment. You need more than a flashlight app on your
cell phone to make sense of things. By
the same token, too much light can be blinding and render you as dysfunctional as
total darkness. Too little or too much
have the same essential effects.
I use this analogy because right now we are
operating in an environment that is new to all of us. We need facts – light – to help us make
decisions. Too few leave us feeling
vulnerable. But it is just as true that
too many facts can overwhelm us.
As the leader, it is up to you to determine when you
have enough data to make an informed decision.
And decide you must.
Remember these truths:
1. You have ascended to the role you are in because
others recognize your abilities and experience and trust you to make difficult
decisions.
2. You
have likely earned your share of scars over the past 10-12 years which have
been about as turbulent as any period in modern history. Those scars are now badges of honour and
testify to your ability to stand up and be counted in uncertain times.
3. Few,
if any, are better prepared than you are to make these decisions about your
work place.
4. As
hard as you try to make the right decisions, failure is only an opportunity to
learn and grow. You will come to the
right decisions a lot faster than scientists will bring us a Covid Cure.
5. Most
people want you to be right. They don’t
aspire to have your job; they want you to lead.
If it was easy, anybody could do it. It’s hard because we don’t have a template or
reference manual.
Collect the facts you need; weight them with the
confidence that you have earned; and make a decision based on your experience.
We need leaders to lead. Now is your turn to show us the way!
