One of the perks of working with C-Suite executives at major MNCs is that I regularly get to witness smart, strategic decision-making.
But I often notice that those same, very smart executives can suffer from this prevalent leadership curse:
🛑 They are TOO GOOD at decision-making.
You’ve probably seen this type of leader: They make fast, smart calls, cut through the fog, and bring clarity to everyone around them. And 99% of the time, they’re right.
But there are two critical downsides to being too good at decision-making:
1️⃣ Everyone else relies on them to make tough calls.
Why wrestle with options when it’s faster and easier to defer to a leader who consistently provides the best answer?
2️⃣The leader leans into this strength as part of their identity.
Good decision-making becomes their badge of honor—their Zone of Genius. They’re confident, efficient, and celebrated for their smart decisions and they enjoy that recognition.
⚠️ The result? These leaders end up working long days, nights, and weekends because so many decisions rely on them.
If this sounds familiar, here are some reflections:
🧐 Acknowledge the cost: Recognize that being overly relied on for decisions will hold you, your team, and the entire organization back.
🔄 Shift your role: At this stage, it’s less about “being” the decision-maker and more about “developing” decision-makers. Share your decision-making process, offer tools, and support your team to make tough calls independently.
💡Embrace diverse ideas: When others propose solutions, are you truly listening, or are you subtly guiding them toward what you believe is best? Learn to let go of the need to be right.
📈 Allow small risks: Making sound decisions is a skill improved over time through trial and error. Give your team room to “fail small” and learn from their missteps—just as you did.
🎉Celebrate others’ decisions: When team members make bold calls, recognize it! Cultivate a culture where they feel trusted to step up and decide.
Being an excellent decision-maker is no doubt a strength.
But building others’ decision-making capability? 🔑 THAT’S LEADERSHIP. 🔑
What approaches have YOU found helpful to build decision-makers on your team?
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