When Should a Leader Change Their Mind?

There is a common thread in leadership that surprises most people and, in some cases, makes them reconsider what they know about leadership. When you think of successful leaders, you probably think of people who are decisive. The ability to make a decision quickly and without complication is one of the keys to leadership. But leaders change their minds every day, even at the risk of being labelled indecisive. Here is the difference: they do not reverse a decision simply because they have doubts. They understand when a change of plan is justified, and sometimes take decisive action by reversing their previous decision. These are some of the main circumstances in which the best course of action is to reconsider a decision: New information emerges. Sometimes new information emerges that completely changes the context of a decision. It may be something that was impossible to foresee, or something that you or your team failed to identify. When that happens, do not think in terms of blame; take the new information and incorporate it into the decision-making process. Later, you can review ways to ensure your research is thorough. The situation becomes unpredictable or unstable. In today’s uncertain market and political climate, situations can go from stable to chaotic in the blink of an eye. When that happens, it is wise to reassess decisions affected by instability and change course if necessary. There is no virtue in holding firmly to a position when everything around you has changed. Feedback suggests it. A bold decision may be theoretically sound, but sometimes, in the light of day, it proves impractical in practice. If early feedback suggests that a plan is not working, for whatever reason, it is wise to listen and make changes where necessary. Always listen to those who know best: the people on the front line every day, whether they are team members or customers. It is time to wait. Once you are in the thick of something, the clear option may be to do nothing for now. In this case, it is not a matter of reversing a decision, but of delaying its implementation until conditions improve or the surrounding issues become clearer. Despite the pressure leaders feel to be bold and act decisively, doing nothing is preferable to making a disastrous decision. If waiting can give you an advantage, wait. Let us honour those leaders who have the capacity to think clearly enough to correct their course, pivot or wait, even if they risk their reputation by making people think they are indecisive. Sometimes you need to change your mind, and that is okay. Leading from Within: Successful leaders can change the way they think because they never stop looking for ways to improve the end result.

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When a Leader Changes Their Mind

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