MIke

You are exactly correct. When you become the boss you will be too far removed from many situations to know what is the correct call. You must evaluate the character of the person making the decision and try to see why he made that particular play. Its not always easy.....

I try to make decisions without regard to who I might piss off, I try to evaluate all the variables and make the best call. This tactic has worked pretty well for me in the long run but it can be make for bumpy going in the short run. It also helps if the company you are working for is a performance based outfit as opposed to a patronage/political operation.

One other important thing to keep in mind is that you should ALWAYS be open to changing your mind if new imformation becomes available or if someone changes your views after a discussion. I've seen way too many managers that think changing ANY decision is a sign of weakness.

Tim