Have you ever considered how a single decision can echo through the corridors of your organisation, shaping its culture and influencing every employee’s day-to-day experience? Uchechi Agwu, a veteran leader and founder of Culture Keepers Consulting, delved into this critical topic during a Goodmorning BSN! session. She explored how both strategic and operational decisions mould organisational culture, sharing stories from her leadership journey.
The Critical Role of Decision-Making
Strategic and operational decisions play pivotal roles in shaping the organisational culture. Uchechi’s insights encourage leaders to reflect on their decision-making processes, urging them to consider how each choice aligns with organisational values and impacts their most valuable asset—their people.
Case Study: The Training Programme Mishap
Rapid deployment of new technologies is crucial to maintaining competitive advantage. How leaders manage the training and development of their staff can significantly influence organisational success. Uchechi highlighted a striking example of decision-making gone awry when not handled with due consideration of all involved stakeholders.
The Decision and Its Repercussions
A multinational corporation urgently needed to adopt a new software system to stay ahead in its industry. It decided to send a recently hired employee, also a nursing mother, to an overseas training programme. This decision, made without consulting her direct manager or considering her personal circumstances, led to a series of misunderstandings and operational blunders.
Outcome and Lessons Learnt
The oversight in communication resulted in escalated conflicts when the manager was finally informed. The situation worsened as the unprepared employee was replaced at the last minute by another who was nearing their exit from the company. This not only jeopardised the training’s effectiveness but also strained team dynamics and trust within the company.
This mishap perfectly demonstrates the critical importance of inclusive decision-making and effective communication in leadership. The failure to align decision-making with operational realities and employee circumstances led to inefficiencies and a dip in team morale. It highlights the necessity for leaders to ensure that decisions are empathetically aligned with the human elements of their teams.
Expanding on the Broader Impact of Decision-Making
Uchechi emphasised that leadership decisions are powerful tools for either reinforcing or eroding an organisation’s culture. Aligned decisions promote a positive environment, while misaligned ones can foster discontent and disengagement.
- Alignment with Organisational Values: Decisions should reflect and uphold the core values of the organisation.
- Inclusion and Transparency: Involving relevant stakeholders ensures decisions are well-informed and broadly supported.
- Consistency: Leaders must strive for consistency in decision-making to maintain trust and stability.
A Call to Reflective Action
The choices leaders make resonate deeply within an organisation, shaping its culture and influencing every facet of its operations. As you reflect on this narrative, consider your own approach to decision-making. Are your decisions fostering a culture of trust and innovation, or are they creating barriers within your team?
We invite you to participate in our weekly webinar series, Goodmorning BSN! Come share your thoughts and experiences with us, as we collectively explore pressing business challenges and new insights, ideas, and tools.
