Chapter 5: Leadership in Communication and Decision Making

Communication is crucial to relationships, and no less so to interpersonal connections in the workplace. Strong relationships lead to stronger and more effective organizations, however there are barriers to good communication. Leaders who communicate to understand an issue will make better decisions. We must be able to overcome barriers to communication through respect and active listening, to truly understand each other and build the type of trust necessary to collaborate and make good decisions.

While leadership is a combination of many things, your characterization of particular leaders and their effectiveness is often a reflection of the decisions that they have or have not made. While decision making is a constant  process in organizations, it does not always go as well as it could. Understanding how decisions are made, how they can be biased, and how to make the decision-making process run smoothly will help you make choices more fully aligned with the organization’s goals.