Sunder Pichai has perfectly captured why decisive action is vital for leaders.
From a CNBC article, “You making that decision is the most important thing you can do to move forward,” Pichai said at the event. “It may feel like a lot rides on your choice, but you look later, and realize, it wasn’t that consequential” .
And in Fortune, “It might appear very tough at the time. It may feel like a lot rides on it, but you look later and you realize it wasn’t that consequential. There are few consequential decisions, and judgment is a big part of leadership.”
As I read these quotes, a vivid memory resurfaced from my college years.
I was traveling in a rickshaw with a friend of mine and her father. We came to a fork and were uncertain of which direction to take. Instinctively, I said, “Turn right”.
My friend’s father smiled and said, “Shabash (a term of encouragement), you made a decision!”
The import of this did not resonate with me until I stepped into a leadership position myself.
I often found leaders balk at making a decision. Mired in too much data, too many options, or perhaps the fear of making the wrong decision, they waited too long. The changing dynamics of the situation then often forced their hand into making a suboptimal decision.
Feedback on decision-making from a senior technical team member has stayed with me – “I don’t always agree with your decisions, but at least you make one”. Making an unpopular decision and sharing the rationale with your team builds trust and goes much farther than not making one.