Why “That wasn’t my decision” costs you your team’s trust
Blaming the people above feels like taking your team’s side. It tells them you are a messenger with no say. Disagree in private, then own the decision out loud.
THE QUICK ANSWER
Say this instead: “Here’s the decision. Here’s why. Here’s how we make it work.” Blaming the people above feels like taking your team’s side, but it tells them you are a messenger with no say, so why would they bring you anything that matters? You can disagree in private. Once the decision is made, you own it out loud.
GO DEEPER
Why owning a decision builds trust
When leadership makes an unpopular decision, “that wasn’t my decision” is a tempting thing to say. It feels honest, and it feels like standing with your team against the people above.
But your team hears something different. They hear that you are a messenger with no say. If you cannot influence the decisions that affect them, why would they bring you anything that matters? Over time they stop seeing you as someone who can help and start seeing you as someone who relays news.
You can disagree in private, and you should. Argue your case with the people who made the decision. But once it is made, you own it out loud. Owning a decision does not mean you love it. It means your team can lean on you.
A simple structure helps: “Here’s the decision. Here’s why. Here’s how we make it work.” You are not pretending to be thrilled. You are showing that you understand the reasons, you are committed to the outcome, and you will help them through it. That is what trust is made of.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Disagree in private, then own the decision out loud: here is the decision, here is why, here is how we make it work.
TEST YOURSELF
Leadership makes an unpopular decision you disagreed with. What do you say to your team?
PRACTISE IT
Try this lesson in the arcade
Quick retro games that start with this lesson’s situations. One thumb, one to three minutes, free.
