If you missed our previous posts in this series on leadership traits it is easy to catch up, the quickest links on earth are right here...
Leadership 199 / Trait 3 of 14: Courage
Leadership 199 / Trait 2 of 14: Bearing
Leadership 199 / Trait 1 of 14: Dependability
Read, Set, Go time it is for our fourth trait…
Leadership 199 / Trait 4 of 14: Decisiveness
Defined: Ability to make decisions promptly and to announce them in clear, forceful manner.
Discovered: The quality of our lives is a direct reflection of our decisions. Each day we make a gabagazillion decisions, give or take a couple. Should I eat this donut or that carrot?... Not interested in work today, should go in I just tough it out or call in sick?... I have an hours time, shall I exercise or watch rare Three Stooges episodes on YouTube?... The basement is flooding, should I open the door and go fix it or ignore it because it will dry out eventually?
Some can make a decision with near zero angst or reservation. Others need an iron-clad guarantee against risk before they are comfortable doing so. Sure some decisions are easier to make than others. Just as sure, some of the hardest decisions we make are about ourselves.
It is easy to look across the street at a 420'ish pound woman struggling to walk to her mail box and decide she needs to lose weight and lose it NOW! Nope, no delay there in seeing anothers obvious need and being decisive about the solution.
Yet that same day we climb a few stairs in our own home, or walk across the mall, to arrive gasping for a full breath before doing going on. Often our own obvious struggle do not result in the same decisiveness.
Decisiveness is seeing a need, identifying how to satisfy that need, weighing the opportunities to be gained by satisfying it against the opportunities to be lost by not doing so, and then making a decision.
Decisiveness is not looking away from a need, over analyzing options to hide fear of making a decision, making excuses or procrastinating.
Once you have made a decision it is time to act upon it. That very first action needs to be announcing your decision with all involved. Whoever it is you will rely on for support, or those who will be affected by your decision, they need to know. Progress starts with a decision, results follow when decisions are clearly and firmly shared.
Da-Point: You only achieve success when you decide to pursue it.
What endeavor awaits the decisive leader within you?
Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!
Posts
I am not good at this trait - I am very indecisive. I do fine in the gym but outside it, not so good.
ReplyDeleteI'm decisive...just not always wise in those decisions. Just as important to make the right decisions as opposed to just making a decision.
ReplyDeleteI do good with this, then in the gym, I must be told each and every single thing, every time! I'm not a gym rat - I'm a gym mouse!
ReplyDeleteI am good at making decisions. Except for when it comes to eating at night! I always decide to do the wrong thing then.
ReplyDeleteI need to be decisive about where I'm going with school from here on out. I'm still on the fence about the benefits verses the debt. I love the classes and I know I'm the better for them but I also know that I may never be able to use as degree if I get it. I might always be unable to work a full time job. That is where I am now.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes wish I was more decisive. At least I think I do. ........
ReplyDeleteThe best line in this post: You only achieve success when you decide to pursue it.