So many organizations have adopted and practice an attitude of indecisiveness at all levels.  This indecisiveness has deep-rooted negative consequences and if left to continue can ultimately destroy the organization. 

The following are some indicators that an organization may have a challenge making timely decisions:

• The same topic appears on multiple meeting agendas.
• Multiple “special meetings” are called to rehash the same decision or components of that decision.
• The owner of the decision abdicates the decision making process to someone else, using words like “my dog’s not in this fight.”
• The decision is placed “on the back burner” for another time or placed on indefinite hold.
• An “I don’t care what happens” attitude is adopted by individuals who are part of the decision making process.

Any or all of the above indicators are telling about individuals or organization’s ability or inability to make timely decisions.  Often decisions are allowed to move into a never-ending research mode and as a result, nothing ever is decided or accomplished.  We have observed organizations that have actually crippled themselves with analysis paralysis by gathering, reviewing and discussing their research to no end.

The following are some recommendations to ensure that decisions are made on a timely basis:

1. Assign an owner to each decision and provide them with the power and authority to make the final call.
2. Follow a predefined process for obtaining needed information and resources.
3. Set a reasonable time for all research to be gathered and reviewed.
4. Set a final date when the decision must be made.
5. Hold the owner responsible to make the decision by the agreed upon date.
6. If the final and agreed upon decision does not turn out well for company, do not allow negative consequences to occur against the decision maker if all the above steps were followed.
7. Take action to replace the owner if he/she is unwilling, unable or uninterested in making the decision within these guidelines.

Making decisions is not a difficult task.  Often times individuals have the ability to make decisions but are fearful that they may make a mistake and that their mistake might have negative consequences.  Individuals should be held accountable for their decisions as well as their lack of making timely decisions.  People who make continual bad decisions or who abdicate or fail to make decisions should be removed from the decision making process, which in some cases will require that they be demoted or exited from the organization.