Make It Matter

CHAPTER 6

Meaningful Decision Making and Influence

A good decision-making process is as much about the process as the decision because it is a way to enable people to contribute directly to and feel integral to an operation. Research consistently shows that work comes to be meaningful when individuals see themselves as capable of substantively influencing outcomes. It’s meaningful because it tells them they are not powerless and that they have the ability to make a real difference.¹

Unfortunately, the desire for a sense of contribution all too often goes unmet in today’s workplace. A global workforce study by Towers Watson showed that, overall, only 39 percent of respondents agreed their organization’s management effectively involved employees ...