If you are the decision maker in your business, people will hate you.
Do you agree with this?
The decision maker is a position that many seek as they build their careers, but often when the position is earned it, comes with far more scrutiny and far less enjoyment than anticipated. So, why do we constantly seek the decision-maker positions? The reason, as usual, is simple and strikes to the heart of each of us as human beings. The answer is that power is attractive and motivating, especially for men.
Let me take this a level deeper. Historically in America, men have been nurtured to be decision makers, to want to make more money than their peers, and to strive for greatness and power as a key criteria for success. This can be validated and documented easily over the past 100 years. This has lead to difficult circumstances for many managers, executives, and other leaders in decision-making roles. The fact that I may not want to be the decision maker usually hits home after I have already won the position of decision maker. Now what do I do?
There is no clear path out of a misfit position, or job requirement. It’s a messy situation at any angle of approach. The key is to not end up in a role that will not equal personal success. Do this by striving for true self-awareness and self-acceptance. Without those valuable virtues it will be difficult to effectively navigate yourself to true success.
Too often, a decision maker is chosen or promoted because she/he is popular among management and peers. However, when the role is assumed, guess what happens to that popularity?
Take five minutes today to reflect on these two questions about being the decision maker:
- Do I enjoy having the final say and accountability for decision making?
- Am I truly self-aware? If yes, have I accepted myself?
