A Leader's Decision Making Says: Come With Me!

“ Many in the design community understand that design must convey the essence of a device’s operation; the way it works; the possible actions that can be taken; and, through feedback, just what it is doing at any particular moment. Design is really an act of communication, which means having a deep understanding of the person with whom the designer is communicating.”

The Design of Everyday Things - Don Norman

Let’s substitute ‘decision’ for ‘design’ and ‘leader’ for ‘device’ and see what we get.

A decision must convey the essence of a leader’s intent; the way she works; the possible actions that can be taken; and, through feedback, just what the leader is wanting at any particular moment. Decision making is really an act of communication, which means having a deep understanding of the person with whom the leader is communicating.

Let’s rewrite this further.

A leader’s decision making communicates what she knows we are capable of doing.

Indeed, what defines her as a Leader as distinct from a boss is because she knows we have the capacity to do, and be, and go - what, and who, and where, but for her - we would not.