Time Versus Trust: Impact Upon Collaborative Decision Making

Abstract

The influence of time pressure on decision making is reviewed from a behavioral standpoint. The discussion focuses on the manner in which managers often retreat from a high‐trust environment during a crisis, thereby limiting their effectiveness as collaborative leaders. This retreat is attributed to the competition between time and trust in which time constraints prevent the development and maintenance of trust within the decision‐making team. The paper identifies trust as a key element of successful teams within organizations, and as a necessary prerequisite to the exchange of ideas and information necessary for optimal solutions. A framework of behavioral tendencies is suggested, which managers and decision makers can use to check their attitudes and responses during a crisis. Recognition of these tendencies will enable managers to encourage open communication and more effective decision making under time pressure.