CHOICES, DECISIONS & REFLECTIONS
As a leader you need to be reminded that your decisions are going to be a public revelation of your convictions. Decisions will be evaluated, judged & even taken to task. Mockery, ridicule may be more common than praise and affirmation.
If you need proof jump on any social media feed that involves political decisions made by state officials in any country.
USA on border control. Nicaragua on quality of life. Uganda on Taxation. Thailand on the rescue of the soccer team.
People are going to be quick to offer their opinion on how you messed up or succeeded when decisions become public.
However those same people are not always going to be quick to be a part of the decision making.
A significant observation I’ve made of being a leader in various areas of business, ministry, coaching, community care & parenting is the amount of lack of help others will offer you so they don’t have to stand next to you in case something falls apart. Self preservation is at it’s finest when problems are revealed and someone needs to stand up to make a decision.
Here is what I’ve learned about how Choices Matter as my Decisions Reflect Conviction.
At the front of this conversation for me are these three categories;
1—As a leader I personally need space to think clearly about the big picture. If I’m going to own a decision, I need to own the convictions and realities I’ve thought through on multiple angles.
2—I can’t think through the big picture alone in a closet. I need people that will be honest with me with pushback. They will ask good questions that I have not thought of. They also think differently than I do about the topic and give help give me perspective.
3—I may need to stand out front to take the hit, but those behind me need to be willing to support me when it gets lethal. These people are the trusted friends, teammates & family members that know me without secrets. Regardless of what they hear, they know me enough to stand with me.
When I communicate a decison publicly I need to be as clear as I can when I go public knowing the whole story or all the details may not need to be shared at that moment.
Often the details that are not shared is what everyone digs for to find the inside scoop. Often people are not entitled to know all the details immediately or even ever. But there are times where a space to share a greater amount of info at a later date can be created.
I also prepare myself for pushback. Sometimes when I get certain questions from people my internal voice says “Yes I have thought about all this your asking about, do you think I’m a moron?!”
But where does that inner voice come from? It comes from a place in me that wants validation that I’ve got this and I’m a good leader.
However, when my inner circle affirms with me the decision is wise, then I have my answer if I’m leading well. I don’t need an outsider of that circle to confirm that truth for me.
That allows me to receive their comments or questions and handle the conversation with intentional leadership in that moment.
It took me years to understand that and I’ve made some really foolish rebuttals in those moments that hurt people, which hurts your public voice of leadership. It can cost you a reputation and influence for future decisions.
Lastly, Quality & Quantity matter. When there is a track record of both quality decisions or a quantity of time people will see who you are as a leader in various circumstances.
That doesn’t mean there is less pushback, it does mean that there will be a growing number of people that will trust you more.