When decision-making stalls, say "unless I hear differently by [date]" to force a final call. It gives people a real deadline to object, then you move forward. Cuts through endless meetings and gets things done.
It's important to review important decisions and to get people's input and consensus if you can. But in many organizations, you can't make decisions because people want to delay. They want more input. They want more time. They put things off, and that's bad. And if you get into that situation where people endlessly want to have more time, more meetings, more reviews, then you use the magic phrase. And the magic phrase is this: Unless I hear differently. You say, we've reviewed this issue. I know you've got some concerns, but you've got time to come back to me. But unless I hear differently by the end of the month, we're going to go ahead with this new policy. Unless I hear differently by Thursday evening, we're going to launch this product next week. So you send that out in an email. You give people an opportunity to make some final determined response, but you're forcing things to happen. You're moving things along. You're making a decision. And that phrase, unless I hear differently, can really lead to action and results.
What is different about your business? #lateralthinking #marketing #leadership
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Questions leaders should ask to assess the level of #innovation in their business. #leadership
