Great education leaders can prudently and quickly analyze situations and act accordingly. Being decisive does not mean making a decision quickly; it means making the right decision promptly. Don’t make the mistake of choosing the first decent solution that comes to mind. It may be a viable solution, but you owe it to your stakeholders to find the most viable solution to the problem. This will give you the best chance of experiencing your desired outcome.
Education leaders are masters at thinking quick on their feet, and formulating a solution to a problem. Those that have this skill enjoy long careers in the field of education. Those that don’t end up burning out, unable to deal with the pressure.
Ask your team for advice
However, do not fall into the trap of making all of the decisions yourself, as you will isolate team members from the decision-making process. Even if you have a good idea as to how a situation should be handled, invite your leadership team to help you. In some cases, they may be able to come up with a better solution that you, and in most cases, they can help you fine-tune yours. Since you are married to your solution, you are too close to see the possible flaws. You know who can spot them? Your leadership team. Decisionmaking is an essential skill that all leaders need. Remember, your decisions affect the futures of our children, and if you are continuously making decisions that disadvantage children, then you are doing more harm than good.
A little experiment
Over the next month, focus on making better decisions. If possible, try to gather as much information and data as you can before making major decisions. When making decisions that require a quick, on the spot response, focus on processing information quickly, and coming up with the best possible decision.
What do you notice after one month? If you follow my advice, you should notice that the decisions that have made over the last month are starting to bear fruit. This is turn will help your organization to be more productive and efficient.
When you make practical decisions, you build trust with your fellow educators, which gives you the ability to make decisions quicker, with less blowback. This means you don’t have to explain the rationale for decisions, because people trust you, based on your track record. However, the truth of the matter is that many leaders find it hard to consistently make good decisions.
Other considerations
Making good decisions involves producing alternatives and examining each option diligently. For instance, if you are looking for a way to discourage students from misbehaving in the classroom, you may find yourself with several viable options. You could punish misbehavior with detention or possible suspension. You could set up a restorative justice program in your school. Or you could train teachers on the latest in classroom and behavior management techniques. Of the three, the final two, seem like the best options. It just depends on your situation.
Once you have made your decision, communicate the plan, and put it in motion. Knowing how to trust your intuition, quickly evaluating situations as well as the people you are dealing with, and making an informed decision is a critical aspect of leadership.
