If a leader doesn't show consistency in his or her decisions, employees will be confused as to the direction they are to take.
A leader should be consistent in his or her decisions, actions, and behavior. Employees won’t know what to expect if your decisions constantly change. Expectations must be known or they will remain expectations. Excellent companies make their goals and expectations clearly and widely known. They have a true focus of where they are, what they are capable of, and where they are going. They know that the maximum effort of every person in their organization is ideal and unclear expectations undermine that effort.
Consistency means that you make the same decision when the factors at play are the same. Vacation scheduling that has always been the same way each year shouldn’t be changed without prior notice. The proposed changes should be thoroughly discussing with all affected parties first. Consistency demands equal pay for equal work, equal punishment for equal acts, and equal treatment regardless of sex, race, belief, religion, etc.
Maintaining consistency doesn’t mean that you can’t change. Change is inevitable and required for businesses to survive. Consistency simply means that you clearly communicate changes, goals, and expectations. Eliminating confusion and simplifying things to every extent possible make for a more productive, efficient organization.
