Bring People as far as Possible into the Decision-Making Process
Peter Drucker wisely said that it was impossible for workers to really understand a business if they aren't brought into the decision-making process.
When thinking on that, it does make great sense to see that as a key way to bring people beyond the basics of training. What better way to get advanced training than to be involved in the processes of the business?
Drucker went beyond this though. He said that any business that doesn't involve their people in the decision-making process is in danger of failing at all times.
To him, the only way to acquire a real understanding on how a business worked was the very process of making decisions. No business can become a reality to a person if they aren't engaged in this way.
You may ask: How can they understand a business if the very process is what's defining it? How it happens is decisions should be based upon the stated purpose, vision and values of a business. While that should be understood by everyone from the beginning of their tenure at a company, it's learning how to apply those principles in daily situations that defines what a company is operationally.
Getting our people involved in making decisions will reinforce what the company stands for and help them to understand how things can be flexible and experimented with as long as we adhere to those underlying principles as guides.
All we have to do is make sure what we are as a company is totally understood, and then let our people be involved in bringing it forward. Not only is it great training, but also a great motivator.
More importantly, the company is no longer an "it" looked at from afar, but the company is a them; the person and their fellow workers who are a big part of guiding it to success. Nothing generates ownership in a company better than being a part of where the company is going.
Other Peter Drucker Resources:
The Man Who Invented Management
Beyond the Information Revolution
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Peter is legend and has go so much experience and had bailed out some many companies from doom. He is spot on - where asking to empower employees for decision making.
Posted by: Free Market Research | July 11, 2007 12:21 PM | Permalink to Comment