Give the decision a date

Career · Little Light original

Everyone has contributed to the discussion. The options are understood, the trade-offs are written down, and the next meeting is beginning to resemble the last one. Meanwhile, people are keeping several versions of the work alive because nobody knows which direction to take. Listening carefully is part of leadership. So is noticing when another round of listening has become a way to postpone responsibility. Agreement may still be incomplete when a decision is due. You can choose a direction, explain what you considered, and name the evidence that would make you reconsider. Those who preferred another option deserve to know that you heard them. They also deserve a clear answer about what happens next. A thoughtful decision leaves room for learning without asking everyone to wait indefinitely. Sometimes the most useful thing you bring to a team is an end to the uncertainty that has been consuming its attention, and a beginning it can organise around.

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