Leaders, Stop Ignoring Your Experts: If It Affects Their Work, They Deserve a Seat at the Table

Listen up, leaders. If you think you can make big decisions without involving the people who actually know their sh*t, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Your team isn’t just there to execute orders—they’re the experts who live and breathe this stuff every single day. So, when a decision is going to impact their work, they deserve to be in the room, not just getting the memo after the fact.

Expertise Is Everywhere—Use It

Here’s a reality check: expertise isn’t confined to the C-suite. It’s scattered throughout your entire organization, from the front lines to the back office. These are the people who know the ins and outs of your business better than anyone, and they’ve got insights that you can’t afford to ignore.

So why the hell wouldn’t you involve them in the decision-making process? When you bring in the experts—at any level—you’re tapping into a well of knowledge that could make or break your strategy. These are the folks who see the day-to-day challenges, who understand the nuances, and who can spot the potential pitfalls long before they become disasters.

Stop Playing Lone Ranger

Making decisions in a vacuum might make you feel powerful, but it’s a surefire way to screw things up. You’re not a lone ranger, and if you’re pretending to be one, your team is probably rolling their eyes behind your back. Big decisions need big brains—plural. And those brains are scattered across your organization, not just sitting in your corner office.

When you involve experts from every level, you’re not just making better decisions—you’re building a culture of respect and collaboration. You’re showing your team that their knowledge matters, that their opinions are valued, and that they’re not just cogs in the machine.

If It Affects Their Work, It’s Their Business

Let’s get one thing straight: if a decision is going to affect how someone does their job, they deserve to have a say. Period. End of story. You wouldn’t make changes to a car’s engine without consulting the mechanic, so why would you mess with your team’s work without bringing them into the conversation?

Involving your experts isn’t just about being nice—it’s about being smart. These are the people who’ll be on the front lines dealing with the fallout of your decisions. They’ve got a unique perspective that you might not have, and they can offer insights that could save you from costly mistakes. So, do yourself a favor and get their input before you pull the trigger.

Involve, Listen, Act

It’s not enough to just ask for opinions and then ignore them. If you’re going to involve your experts, you better be ready to listen—and I mean really listen. Take their feedback seriously, weigh it alongside the other factors, and make decisions that reflect the collective wisdom of your team.

And when you act, do so with the confidence that comes from knowing you’ve considered every angle. Because when your decisions are informed by the people who actually know what they’re talking about, you’re not just leading—you’re leading with purpose.

Bottom Line

Quit making decisions in the dark, and start involving the experts who can actually help you get it right. Your team’s got valuable insights—use them. If it affects their work, they deserve a voice. Don’t just lead—collaborate, listen, and make decisions that reflect the brilliance of your entire organization. Because at the end of the day, the smartest leaders know they’re not the only smart ones in the room.

Photo Credit: Tolu Akinyemi via Unsplash