Chronic Enthusiasm

Many managers choose to make important decisions by themselves after some discussions with the team members involved. Companies desiring a consensus management culture pass the decision process to the team itself. The downside is that decisions can take a very long time with the corresponding negative effects upon schedules.

A powerful solution that I learned from Dave Brown in my first two startups was his practice of setting a deadline for an important decision. He would say, “You guys make a decision by 10 AM on Tuesday. You decide on time or I will.” This method simultaneously delivers timely decisions and positively reinforces the company culture.

In my youth I was highly engaged in amateur car racing. One of the many challenges of this endeavor was the management of the unpaid volunteers who were helping to prepare the cars. Later, as a manager of professionals I came to realize that a person’s best work is always voluntary. Being paid does not automatically compel one to deliver excellence. Creating and maintaining a company culture where individuals ‘volunteer’ their best work is one of the major activities of leadership. How are you inspiring your ‘volunteers’ to deliver excellence in your organization?