close
  • Sales
    Press Space or Enter to display list of options
EXPLORE ALL PRODUCTS

Sales

 
CRM

Comprehensive CRM platform for customer-facing teams.

CRM
 
Bigin

Simple CRM for small businesses moving from spreadsheets.

Bigin
 
Forms

Build online forms for every business need.

Forms
 
SalesIQ

Live chat app to engage and convert website visitors.

SalesIQ
 
Bookings

Appointment scheduling app for consultations with customers.

Bookings
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
RouteIQ

Comprehensive sales map visualization and optimal route planning solution.

RouteIQ
 
Thrive

Complete loyalty and affiliate management platform.

Thrive
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
Suites
CRM Plus

Unified platform to deliver top-notch customer experience.

CRM Plus

Marketing

 
Social

All-in-one social media management software.

Social
 
Campaigns

Create, send, and track targeted email campaigns that drive sales.

Campaigns
 
Forms

Build online forms for every business need.

Forms
 
Survey

Design surveys to reach and interact with your audience.

Survey
 
Sites

Online website builder with extensive customisation options.

Sites
 
PageSense

Website conversion optimization and personalisation platform.

PageSense
 
Backstage

End-to-end event management software.

Backstage
 
Webinar

Webinar platform for webcasting online webinars.

Webinar
 
Marketing Automation

All-in-one marketing automation software.

Marketing Automation
 
LandingPage

Smart landing page builder to increase conversion rates

LandingPage
 
Publish

Manage all your local business listings on a single platform.

Publish
 
SalesIQ

Live chat app to engage and convert website visitors.

SalesIQ
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Thrive

Complete loyalty and affiliate management platform.

Thrive
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
NEW
LeadChain

Sync, manage, and convert leads across channels seamlessly.

LeadChain
 
NEW
CommunitySpaces

Online community platform for individuals and businesses to grow their network and brand.

CommunitySpaces
 
Suites
Marketing Plus

Unified marketing platform for marketing teams.

Marketing Plus

Commerce and POS

 
Commerce

eCommerce platform to manage and market your online store.

Commerce

Service

 
Desk

Helpdesk software to deliver great customer support.

Desk
 
Assist

Remote support and unattended remote access software.

Assist
 
Lens

Interactive remote assistance software with augmented reality.

Lens
 
FSM

End-to-end field service management platform for service businesses.

FSM
 
SalesIQ

Live chat app to engage and convert website visitors.

SalesIQ
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
Solo

The all-in-one toolkit for solopreneurs.

Solo
 
Bookings

Appointment scheduling app for consultations with customers.

Bookings
 
Suites
Service Plus

Unified platform for customer service and support teams.

Service Plus

Finance

 
Books

Powerful accounting platform for growing businesses.

Books
 
FREE
Invoice

100% Free invoicing solution.

Invoice
 
Expense

Effortless expense reporting platform.

Expense
 
Inventory

Powerful stock management and inventory control software.

Inventory
 
Billing

End-to-end billing solution for your business.

Billing
 
Checkout

Collect payments online with custom branded pages.

Checkout
 
NEW
Payroll

Payroll software with automated tax payments and filing.

Payroll
 
Solo

The all-in-one toolkit for solopreneurs.

Solo
 
Practice

Practice management software for accounting firms.

Practice
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Commerce

eCommerce platform to manage and market your online store.

Commerce
 
Suites
Finance Plus

All-in-one suite to manage your operations and finances.

Finance Plus

Email and Collaboration

 
Mail

Secure email service for teams of all sizes.

Mail
 
Meeting

Online meeting software for all your video conferencing & webinar needs.

Meeting
 
Writer

Word processor for focused writing and discussions.

Writer
 
Sheet

Spreadsheet software for collaborative teams.

Sheet
 
Show

Create, edit, and share slides with a sleek presentation app.

Show
 
Notebook

Beautiful home for all your notes.

Notebook
 
Cliq

Stay in touch with teams no matter where you are.

Cliq
 
Connect

Employee experience platform to communicate, engage, and build positive employee relations.

Connect
 
Bookings

Appointment scheduling app for consultations with customers.

Bookings
 
TeamInbox

Shared inboxes for teams.

TeamInbox
 
WorkDrive

Online file management for teams.

WorkDrive
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Office Suite

Powerful collaborative work platform for teams.

Office Suite
 
Office Integrator

Built in document editors for web apps.

Office Integrator
 
ZeptoMail

Secure and reliable transactional email sending service.

ZeptoMail
 
Calendar

Online business calendar to manage events and schedule appointments.

Calendar
 
Learn

Knowledge and learning management platform.

Learn
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
ToDo

Collaborative task management for individuals and teams.

ToDo
 
Tables

Work management tool to connect people, processes, and information.

Tables
 
FREE
PDF Editor

Collaborative online PDF editing tool.

PDF Editor
 
Suites
Workplace

Application suite built to improve team productivity and collaboration.

Workplace

Human Resources

 
People

Organize, automate, and simplify your HR processes.

People
 
Recruit

Intuitive recruiting platform built to provide hiring solutions.

Recruit
 
Expense

Effortless expense reporting platform.

Expense
 
Workerly

Manage temporary staffing with an employee scheduling solution.

Workerly
 
NEW
Payroll

Payroll software with automated tax payments and filing.

Payroll
 
Shifts

Employee scheduling and time tracking app.

Shifts
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Suites
People Plus

Comprehensive HR platform for seamless employee experiences.

People Plus

Security and IT Management

 
Creator

Build custom apps to simplify business processes.

Creator
 
Directory

Workforce identity and access management solution for cloud businesses.

Directory
 
FREE
OneAuth

Secure multi-factor authenticator (MFA) for all your online accounts.

OneAuth
 
Vault

Online password manager for teams.

Vault
 
Catalyst

Pro-code platform to build and deploy your apps.

Catalyst
 
Toolkit

Complete resource for any admin-related lookup queries.

Toolkit
 
Lens

Interactive remote assistance software with augmented reality.

Lens
 
Assist

Remote support and unattended remote access software.

Assist
 
QEngine

Test automation software to build, manage, execute, and report testcases.

QEngine
 
NEW
RPA

Automate manual, tedious, and repetitive tasks easily.

RPA

BI and Analytics

 
Analytics

Modern self-service BI and analytics platform.

Analytics
 
Embedded BI

Embedded analytics and white label BI solutions, tailored for your needs.

Embedded BI
 
DataPrep

AI-powered data preparation service for your data-driven organization.

DataPrep
 
NEW
IoT

Harnessing IoT analytics for real-time operational intelligence.

IoT

Project Management

 
Projects

Manage, track, and collaborate on projects with teams.

Projects
 
Sprints

Planning and tracking tool for scrum teams.

Sprints
 
BugTracker

Automatic bug tracking software for managing bugs.

BugTracker
 
Solo

The all-in-one toolkit for solopreneurs.

Solo

Developer Platforms

 
Creator

Build custom apps to simplify business processes.

Creator
 
Flow

Automate business workflows by creating smart integrations.

Flow
 
Catalyst

Pro-code platform to build and deploy your apps.

Catalyst
 
Office Integrator

Built in document editors for web apps.

Office Integrator
 
ZeptoMail

Secure and reliable transactional email sending service.

ZeptoMail
 
QEngine

Test automation software to build, manage, execute, and report testcases.

QEngine
 
Tables

Work management tool to connect people, processes, and information.

Tables
 
NEW
RPA

Automate manual, tedious, and repetitive tasks easily.

RPA
 
NEW
Apptics

Application analytics for all apps.

Apptics
 
Embedded BI

Embedded analytics and white label BI solutions, tailored for your needs.

Embedded BI
 
NEW
IoT

Build, deploy, and scale IoT solutions for connected businesses.

IoT
 
DataPrep

AI-powered data preparation service for your data-driven organization.

DataPrep

IoT

 
NEW
IoT

Low-code IoT platform and solutions for connected businesses.

IoT

Search Result

 
CRM Plus

Unified platform to deliver top-notch customer experience.

Try now
CRM Plus
 
Service Plus

Unified platform for customer service and support teams.

Try now
Service Plus
 
Finance Plus

All-in-one suite to manage your operations and finances.

Try now
Finance Plus
 
People Plus

Comprehensive HR platform for seamless employee experiences.

Try now
People Plus
 
Workplace

Application suite built to improve team productivity and collaboration.

Try now
Workplace
 
Marketing Plus

Unified marketing platform for marketing teams.

Try now
Marketing Plus
 
All-in-one suite

Zoho One

The Operating System for Business

Run your entire business on Zoho with our unified cloud software, designed to help you break down silos between departments and increase organizational efficiency.

TRY ZOHO ONE
Zoho One
Zoho Marketplace

With over 2000 ready-to-use extensions across 40+ categories, connect your favorite business tools with the Zoho products you already use.

EXPLORE MARKETPLACE
Marketplace
Points the way towards all things that can improve productivity, from project
management and collaboration to workplace culture and organizational behaviour.
  • HOME
  • Project Management
  • Why project managers need to embrace the 'joy of being wrong' for successful decision-making

Why project managers need to embrace the 'joy of being wrong' for successful decision-making

A project manager and his team in a discussion

Successful project managers bring to the table stellar technical expertise and team-handling competence. These attributes together with other beneficial behaviors help them in strategic decision-making whenever needed. A frequently-overlooked aspect for this kind of decision is its authenticity. A decision derives its authenticity from the decision-makers' awareness of their own limitations and willingness to admit to them. As employees are the drivers of an organization's success, it also becomes critical to verify if the managerial decisions of a team result from truthful employee interactions.

In this article, we'll look at why project managers should sincerely accept their shortcomings while making decisions and how this feat can positively influence a project's success.

Encourages a culture of truth-telling

 Although honesty is hailed as the best of virtues in the workplace, employees tend to weigh the consequences of being truthful before presenting their ideas in the open. The truth, when not well-received by self-focused managers, drives honesty out of team discussions. Meetings led by leaders who self-identify as "infallible" might run smoothly, eliciting agreeable responses, but end up creating an air of mistrust in the team, which can result in dire consequences to the project in the long run.

On the contrary, when a manager plainly admits their uncertainty or wrongdoing, employees are encouraged to speak up. By cultivating a culture of truth-telling, managers can improve conversation quality and ultimately the team's performance.

Makes space for diverse opinions

 Projects are elaborate. Running them is even more complex. In an attempt to simplify the process, managers tend to avoid information that contradict their ideas, thus eliminating the prospect of multiple voices and perspectives in a project. When managers say, "I don't know. I might be wrong," they are debunking the age-old myth that experts know everything. What follows is a dynamic exchange of ideas bouncing off of their not-so-expert peers. Employees in such environments actively seek out answers, raise the right questions, and engage in out-of-the-box thinking, which can pave the way to solve issues and meet project requirements in novel ways.

Eliminates intellectual laziness 

 Managers who stubbornly insist that they are right despite conflicting evidence are engaging in small-scale deception. The repercussions being the team mistaking their loud, confident words for the right and assuming their decisions are always informed. Over time, their subordinates get laid-back and begin waiting for their leader to make an informed judgement. When they say, "Yes, great idea! I agree," it should be noted that their conformity does not come out of active analysis but laziness. The absence of active thinking in a group might spell doom to the individuals and the project ultimately.

Leaders who easily sway their peers offer the group no provision to prove or disprove claims, whereas ideal managers aim at encouraging their teams to evaluate evidence for themselves.

Avoids groupthink consequences

 On the morning of space shuttle Challenger's scheduled launch in January 1986, the launchpad recorded 36°F—which was 15 degrees lesser than that required for the optimal performance of the shuttle's "O-ring seal." In his Union address on that night, President Ronald Reagan was to announce the ambitious launch in the context of the space race. Together with it, the ground team at NASA also faced major social pressure to chase publicity among the countrymen. Giving in to them, the team went ahead with the launch despite concerns from engineers about the "O-ring". Just 73 seconds into its flight, the Challenger exploded, killing seven astronauts with it. The post-accident investigation by Rogers Commission found 'groupthink' as one of the reasons for the fateful event.

Groupthink is when a group makes a flawed decision in order to reach a consensus amidst strong internal and external pressure. Managers who get charged at every divergent idea from their subordinates, create an internal pressure due to which employees become mellow. More interested in maintaining the group harmony, the team nods at everything the manager proposes. As is evident, only when the members of a team are not apprehensive of the manager's reaction to their inputs, will they be able to think composedly and suggest effective solutions.

The point of any team discussion is not to prove superiority, instead to collaborate for a common objective. It is the manager's responsibility to create an environment where everyone at the table understands, considers and speaks about the issue at hand honestly. By being genuinely receptive of feedback, managers should model themselves as safe resources who are accepting of the distinct ways a team thinks. Gradually, this will build trust and help create pleasant working conditions for teams which will reflect in the quality of the work they deliver. When all is said and done, it would do more good than bad if managers say, "I don't have all the answers; let's find them together."

Related Topics

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

By submitting this form, you agree to the processing of personal data according to our Privacy Policy.

You may also like