“You know, that’s really the most difficult part,” Taylor explained. “I have to make decisions today that might not come into play for another year. I have to make decisions. I have to make commitments. Sometimes, I even have to gamble.”
“What makes it so difficult?” I asked.
“It’s the uncertainty of what might happen. It’s the uncertainty of the future. I mean, our projects are complex, you know, detail complex. But the real complexity comes from the uncertainty.”
Welcome to the real world! Life is full of uncertainties, and a manager never has all the information needed to make decisions. The art of management is learning how to orchestrate all aspects of a project, including the unknowns, to reach a successful conclusion.
This idea of a lack on measurment for about 6 months to a year are one known cause of workplace misery.
You phrased it in a good way though, for leadership choices made are uncertain.
This is why leaders must have information and transparancy within their teams. The leader has to have all the information present, to make the best choice. If even one team members is holding back on the information then the best choice cannot be made.
Both Tom Long and Michael Cardus have the same response I would have written. As a manager you are to manage people and resources and with both aspects comes planning. The manager who does not listen or do their homework are those who can not come up successful conclusions or be ready when a sudden change may occur.