DECISIVE
WHY IT MATTERS
As the one ultimately accountable, leaders are responsible to make decisions. They choose which path to take when faced with difficult questions. They know that being decisive means having a convincing opinion, and making their decisions in a way that instills confidence in others. Leaders that are decisive make the right decision, at the right time, in the right way, and don’t look back. If they are proven wrong, they are humble enough to change direction. Leaders that are not decisive, and who meander undecidedly or hesitantly around hard choices, waste time, miss opportunities, become inhibitors to the work instead of contributors, cause critical delays, and slowly lose the confidence of those they lead.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Leaders that are decisive make the tough decisions when others might back down. They make the hard calls when others might falter. They aren’t afraid to be responsible to make the difficult choice. They thrive under pressure. They aren’t intimidated by making decisions that have long lasting and far-reaching impact.
Leaders that are decisive know one of their most precious assets is time. They feel time is the most expensive currency they can spend, so they don’t unnecessarily waste it waiting to make up their mind about what to do. When faced with decisions or questions they act swiftly. They want all the data available when making a decision, but they aren’t paralyzed without it. They understand the issues at hand, assess their options, and have the confidence to take action.
Leaders that are decisive know when they can take time to make a decision and when they have to just plow forward. They know the window of opportunity for making decisions can close quickly so their inclination is to move as fast as is wise. They know that acting swiftly can sometimes be as hurtful as it can be helpful, so they pay attention to when it may be important to slow down and proceed with greater deliberation.
Leaders that are decisive know there are risks inherent in every decision, but they don’t let those risks impede their forward progress. They identify the risks, study them, and look at them from every angle and perspective. They judge which risks are acceptable and which are not, and move forward with confidence in their ability to manage the risks they choose to accept.
Leaders that are decisive have the confidence to see their decisions through to the very end. They don’t make one decision on one day, only to randomly change it the very next day. They are reliable and steady. They make decisions that stick. They are willing to change direction, but only when a situation absolutely requires it and there is data to prove it.
Leaders that are decisive do what they think is correct. They don’t allow themselves to be influenced or pressured by others’ personal biases or by external voices. They listen to people and seek their counsel, but at the end of the day they know it is their job to do what they think is right and accept the responsibility for the consequences that follow.
BELIEFS
SELF-REFLECTION
WORDS OF CAUTION
As the one ultimately accountable, leaders are responsible to make decisions. They choose which path to take when faced with difficult questions. They know that being decisive means having a convincing opinion, and making their decisions in a way that instills confidence in others. Leaders that are decisive make the right decision, at the right time, in the right way, and don’t look back. If they are proven wrong, they are humble enough to change direction. Leaders that are not decisive, and who meander undecidedly or hesitantly around hard choices, waste time, miss opportunities, become inhibitors to the work instead of contributors, cause critical delays, and slowly lose the confidence of those they lead.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Leaders that are decisive make the tough decisions when others might back down. They make the hard calls when others might falter. They aren’t afraid to be responsible to make the difficult choice. They thrive under pressure. They aren’t intimidated by making decisions that have long lasting and far-reaching impact.
Leaders that are decisive know one of their most precious assets is time. They feel time is the most expensive currency they can spend, so they don’t unnecessarily waste it waiting to make up their mind about what to do. When faced with decisions or questions they act swiftly. They want all the data available when making a decision, but they aren’t paralyzed without it. They understand the issues at hand, assess their options, and have the confidence to take action.
Leaders that are decisive know when they can take time to make a decision and when they have to just plow forward. They know the window of opportunity for making decisions can close quickly so their inclination is to move as fast as is wise. They know that acting swiftly can sometimes be as hurtful as it can be helpful, so they pay attention to when it may be important to slow down and proceed with greater deliberation.
Leaders that are decisive know there are risks inherent in every decision, but they don’t let those risks impede their forward progress. They identify the risks, study them, and look at them from every angle and perspective. They judge which risks are acceptable and which are not, and move forward with confidence in their ability to manage the risks they choose to accept.
Leaders that are decisive have the confidence to see their decisions through to the very end. They don’t make one decision on one day, only to randomly change it the very next day. They are reliable and steady. They make decisions that stick. They are willing to change direction, but only when a situation absolutely requires it and there is data to prove it.
Leaders that are decisive do what they think is correct. They don’t allow themselves to be influenced or pressured by others’ personal biases or by external voices. They listen to people and seek their counsel, but at the end of the day they know it is their job to do what they think is right and accept the responsibility for the consequences that follow.
BELIEFS
- Once you make a decision stick with it until you are proven wrong. Decisiveness means seeing your decisions through to the end.
- The pages of time pass quickly and if you don’t make a decision now your opportunity might pass you by.
- Being decisive doesn’t matter if you can’t follow through on your decisions. If you can’t execute, who cares what you decide.
- Be strategically decisive, not pervasively decisive. There might be times when being decisive could be the wrong approach.
- Decisiveness doesn’t mean making decisions in a silo. You have to include others in your decision-making process.
- Decisive leaders instill confidence. People can perceive if a leader is confident in their decision, and they will mirror that confidence.
- Someone has to make the tough decisions, and as the leader that someone is you.
- The only option a leader has is to make the best decisions they can, with the information they have, in as timely a way as possible.
- Don’t be fazed by tight deadlines.
- Guard yourself against jumping to conclusions.
- Fulfill a decision with the conviction you made it.
- Accept accountability for your decisions.
- Avoid agonizing over every little detail.
- Don’t be paralyzed by pressure and stress.
- Stick with your decisions in times of difficulty.
- Make decisions in a timely manner.
- Be appropriately patient when needed.
- Don’t decide just for the sake of deciding.
- Project your decisions into the future.
- Stick to decisions until change is necessary.
- Don’t wait when there is no time to wait.
- Avoid decisions based on personal biases.
- Stand by decisions even if they are unpopular.
- Be willing to act with incomplete information.
- Be careful not be overly impulsive.
- Don’t fear criticism for your decisions.
- Rely on your instincts and your experience.
- Be willing to take well planned risks.
- Don’t back down from making tough decisions.
- Show confidence to create confidence.
SELF-REFLECTION
- Do I quickly assess what needs to be done and do it, or do I take a lot of time deciding what to do?
- Do I make decisions with confidence and determination, or do I waiver and doubt the decisions I make?
- Do I differentiate between decisions that need to be made now and those that can wait, or do I rush into everything?
- Do I miss opportunities because of how long it takes me to make decisions, or do I grasp the opportunities I see?
- Do I know the risks I am taking when I make decisions, or do I make decisions without anticipating their consequences?
- Do I thrive in the moments that matter most, or do I become intimidated and unsteady in times of consequence?
- Do I see my decisions through to the end, or do I change course so often it appears like I don’t know what to do?
- Do I do what I personally feel is right, or am I too easily influenced by what others think is right?
WORDS OF CAUTION
- Don’t make strong decisions without doing your homework and confuse decisiveness for what is actually laziness.
- Don’t reply to a situation decisively if in fact making a quick and decisive decision is exactly what you shouldn’t do.
- Don’t let your decisiveness lead to making decisions all by yourself instead of involving others in the process.
- I can make decisions quickly.
- Once I make a decision, I don’t look back.
- I don’t agonize over the unknown.
- Taking risks is part of decision making.
- I’ve never held up a project because I had to make a decision.
- I’d rather move quickly than slowly.