Leaders are role models to the workforce. Have you ever had a leader who could never make a decision no matter how much information was at his disposal? Did you ever know a leader who took too long in her decision-making process?

There are always trade-offs when making a decision. If you decide too quickly or hastily, mistakes can be made. But being risk averse can often be a bigger issue for organizations. If you are too slow, then you may miss an opportunity. When a leader becomes reluctant, the organization can become ineffective.

Reluctant leaders make it harder on all parties when they will not admit that they cannot make a judgment call. They can be so afraid of change and do not want to face what the ultimate outcome will be.

Procrastination is the biggest pitfall of reluctant leaders. They simply do not want to face the realities before them. If they had a choice, they would never take a decisive step and would rather run away from solving an issue.

So how can you turn a reluctant leader around to make sound decisions?

It also helps to make decision-making process less daunting. Break it up into parts that are more manageable. Set up all the facts in front of you. Bounce ideas off different people and departments within the organization. Set up a time limit based upon the complexity of the situation.

A leader takes a stand and accepts that a decision will be tough, but makes a firm commitment to the outcomes. Strive to clarify why this decision is required.

Leaders should have agile thinking and admit when they are wrong. Accountability is one of the best foundations of leadership. A reluctant leader wants to blame others, and this takes away from empowering others.

The goal in decision-making is results, and you must take the good with the bad. Sometimes, leaders can overthink things and clutter up the issues that need to be addressed. This can be draining both for the leader and for the organization.

Finally, a leader should not make decisions in a vacuum. They allow others to take part with the appropriate meetings and discussions.

Unknowns will always be there when a leader has to factor in all possibilities, but communication is the key factor in both good leadership and decision-making. Involving the team and letting them know what is happening can make the decision process easier.

Considering these variables will help transform a reluctant leader into a smart leader.