Maintain Your Integrity When Making Tough Decisions – HBR

Every leader faces complex, subjective decisions, such as who to promote into a critical role, whether to do layoffs during a downturn or how to handle employee misconduct. When there are no easy answers, one option is to consider the problem along three dimensions:

• the ethics (what is viewed as acceptable in your organization or society),
• morals (your internal sense of right and wrong),
• and the responsibilities associated with your specific role.

Thoroughly interrogating the problem and possible solutions in this way will help you come to a decision and clearly articulate your reasoning. Start by clarifying your personal worldview: What do you stand for, and does that align with what your organization stands for?

Next, ask yourself if there’s a path forward that aligns along all three dimensions. If so, great. If not, what are you willing to compromise? Once you’ve made the tough call, do some self-reflection. Which values did you give precedence to? Why? And at whose expense? This kind of soul-searching is challenging, but it will also prepare you for the next hard decision you face.

Source: HBR – Eric Pliner

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