Does Your Leader Make Rational Decisions, or Rationalize?

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Leadership involves making tough decisions, and leaders are frequently judged by the decisions they make and their impacts. How these decisions are made can have a significant influence on the leader's and the organization's success. This decision-making process is often "behind-the-scenes," meaning that even front-line leaders may be unaware of the inputs and considerations that went into the decision-making, or the leader's style of decision-making.

A Difference that Makes a Difference

Rational decision-making is a process of observing, assessing situations objectively, weighing available evidence, and deriving conclusions. Rational leaders prioritize reason over emotion, ensuring choices are grounded in an understanding of factors at play and differing perspectives being taken.

In contrast, rationalizing impulsive decisions is a common pitfall for many leaders—making excuses for ignoring counsel or bypassing process, ignoring contradictory evidence, making a decision based on pre-existing assumptions or personal motivations, shifting blame for negative outcomes.

Rationalizing can lead to a lack of transparency and accountability, erode trust and confidence, and lead to unfortunate consequences.

Healthy leadership is marked by a tendency to make difficult choices wisely, however tedious or even slow the process, rather than acting impulsively or justifying decisions that have already been made. Such leaders are open to feedback, willing to reconsider decisions in light of new information or factors, and transparent in communicating reasoning behind choices.

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Memorable Examples

Throughout his presidency, Abraham Lincoln was known for his willingness to listen to the advice of others and to reconsider his decisions in light of new information. This approach ultimately led to the abolition of slavery and the preservation of the Union, despite significant opposition.

In contrast, the case of Enron's collapse provides an example of the pitfalls of rationalizing. The company's leadership, including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling, demonstrated an unwillingness to listen to advice and a tendency to justify questionable decisions, which contributed to the company's downfall and resulted in multiple convictions for fraud and conspiracy.

Integrating Mind and Heart

The process of rational decision-making involves a symphony of cognitive functions, including information gathering, analysis, and synthesis. Leaders who prioritize rationality engage in a systematic evaluation of available data, considering both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of a situation. This allows for a fuller understanding of the complexities at hand.

Contrary to the misconception that rational decision-making negates emotions, effective leaders integrate emotional intelligence into their thought and decision-making processes. Acknowledging and understanding emotions, both their own and those of others, enables leaders to navigate interpersonal dynamics and make decisions that resonate with their team.

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Embracing rational leadership is key to organizational success. Through dialogue and argument, and consideration of evidence, perspectives, and potential consequences, leaders can make difficult decisions that represent far more than their hidden biases, motivations, and interests, choices rooted in the wisdom of counsel and deliberative process.