Why It’s Important to Have Decisive Leaders

Decisiveness is one of those skills that people don’t often talk about, but it’s extremely important to great leadership. Have you ever worked with a leader who couldn’t make up their mind—who was constantly asking others what they thought but never come to any conclusions themselves? if you have experienced this you know how devastating and frustrating an indecisive leader can be.

Whether you’re looking to hire someone for a leadership position or evaluate your own strengths, here are the key hallmarks of decisive leaders.

Decisive leaders do what they say they will do. They are responsible and accountable. A big part of decisive leadership is understanding that you are committed to the words you say and the actions needed to carry them out.

Decisive leaders are confident. They couch every message in clarity and confidence. That self-assurance makes it unlikely that others will second-guess their decisions—on the contrary, it builds more confidence and trust.

Decisive leaders are quick to decide and slow to change their minds. Decisiveness does not mean being stubborn, arrogant or hasty—it’s simply the ability to decide with speed and clarity. The most decisive leaders have a gift of making up their mind quickly and changing it very slowly. They trust their instincts, because they know those instincts are backed by a solid base of experience and knowledge, and they commit to riding the wave of their decisions.

Decisive leaders are trusted. It’s human nature to gravitate toward decisive leaders and trust them—especially leaders who consider the impact of their decisions on others.

Decisive leaders are bold. Indecision itself is the root of much fear, stress and worry. By being less fearful we are more likely to take calculated risks. And making powerful decisions helps overcome fears, setting up a positive feedback loop. Learn to make decisions even in the face of uncertainty—this will make all the difference. Gather the best information possible, give it some honest, objective thought, then go ahead and decide which way to proceed.

Decisive leaders are great learners. Even the best leaders sometimes make a wrong decision. But when they do, they treat it as a lesson—and they rarely repeat the same mistake. The thing a decisive leader hates more than anything is to sit by and let things happen. They like to be in control of their destiny.

Decisive leaders create a systematic mental order. They understand that decisiveness is a state of mind best created through mental clarity. They evaluate their options, decide on a plan of action and then stick to it. One of the best ways to become more decisive is to develop a system of thinking through things.

Like so much of leadership, the ability to make a decision and stick with it is one you can develop. And when you do, you will be well one your way to accomplishing great things with your leadership.

Lead from within: For most people, the difference between success and failure lies in their decision making.

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The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness

After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.

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• How to Succeed as A New Leader
• 12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
• 4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
• The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
• The Deception Trap of Leadership

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