One of the great frustrations of being a middle manager is that senior leaders make decisions that go against what you would have done had it been up to you. Sometimes you are part of the decision process, and other times the decision is simply handed down. Either way, you are now responsible for ensuring that the plan is carried out.
When You Have to Carry Out a Decision You Disagree With
If senior leaders in your organization have made a decision you disagree with, how can you carry it out? To start, resist the temptation to communicate to your peers and supervisees that you’re not convinced this is the right way to go. Your job is to help your organization succeed. You won’t be fulfilling that role if you — intentionally or unintentionally — undermine the decision. Then ask yourself whether you trust senior management. Assuming you do (and if you don’t, it might be time to look for another job), then put yourself in the shoes of someone who believes deeply in the decision that was made. Ask yourself why someone would make this choice. Look for factors you may not have considered before that would make this option a good one. While you’re at it, also be explicit about all of your objections – this will help you anticipate any obstacles you might face in carrying out the decision. Once you’ve wrapped your head around why this decision was reasonable, convey that belief to your team. After all, how much effort your team puts into making a plan succeed depends in large part on how much they believe in it.