This week the Wily Manager guys discuss dealing with people who can’t make a decision. This is particularly frustrating if your boss is that undecided person. They also talk about things you can do to influence your undecided boss, and why they might be that way.
Monday’s Tip: Try to figure out why they won’t decide. Is it insecurity, risk aversion, perfectionism? If you can figure out why your boss can’t decide, you’re much more likely to be able to influence the behavior.
Tuesday’s Tip: Consider that you may be missing some key information. If your boss usually makes decisions quickly, and is dragging her heels on a particular decision, there is a good chance that she knows something that you don’t.
Wednesday’s Tip: Mitigate the risks for your boss. If your boss is risk averse, mitigate as many of those risks as you can to make it easier for him to pull the trigger on a decision.
Thursday’s Tip: Highlight that “no decision” is, in fact, a decision. By delaying a decision, it is often the case that options are not being left open as much as options are quickly being taken away. Failure to make a decision is a conscious choice.
Friday’s Tip: Never sewer your boss. As frustrating as an undecided boss is, you need to be exceptionally careful if you choose to try to circumvent his authority to reach a decision point. Proceed with extreme caution if you choose to go this way.