It's your job as a CEO to force your people to make the right decisions as opposed to the expedient, easy, or "either" "or" decisions. Once in a while someone will propose an "either we do this or this happens" decision. As an example, "either we lower our price or we lose market share, or my favorite, which is "either we lower our margin or lose customers". I hate "either-or" decisions. And as a CEO you should too. Whenever I hear "either-or" my guard is up. People who think in "either-or" terms aren't thinking at all-they are taking the easy way out.
When they do, it is your job as the CEO to reframe the question. It's your job to be unreasonable. Here is what I say-"Guys, we are not going to lower our price and we are not going to lose market share." Once you put that stake in the ground it forces the organization to look harder at the problem and come up with more creative solutions. And yes, sometimes you will be forced into an either or choice, I understand that. But make that is your last, not first resort.
Comments