What role does a manager take in decision making in a large organisation? How do decisions get made versus how should they be made? This is a common thread I hear in the conversations I am having with many leaders at the moment. How do managers manage the teams that work for them with regard to decisions?
A huge amount of time is spent in update meetings where people involved in the nitty-gritty of their work present updates to their managers. What role does the manager play in these meetings? How does the manager or leader add value?
The practical reality of the matter is that a manager isn’t going to understand everything with just an update. The ability to ask good quality questions to facilitate their subordinates’ thinking can be of most help, adding expertise, born from experience and offering a more senior perspective where needed.
The common pitfalls of these meetings are:
- Getting stuck in a rut where the manager needs lots of detail just to keep updated
- The manager makes decisions without truly understanding the situation
- Both these scenarios leave the manager’s staff feeling like their time has been wasted and probably contributes to the high statistics we have about how much time is wasted in meetings.
By getting clear on decision making processes, managers and leaders can be transparent in their transactions with staff – when they need to tell them, when to consult with them, and when to co-create with them. This can save a lot of time wasted in meetings.
We can help you sort this out with some coaching, training or facilitation of your meetings. Call us at +44 (0) 6128 471 114 or complete the contact form.