Читать книгу Stand Tall Leadership - Steven A. Bollar - Страница 10

There is a difference between making decisions and making difficult decisions. When educators were asked about traits of a leader, most of them stated that leaders make decisions. Then when I clarified and stated that leaders make difficult decisions, most would hum and nod their heads in agreement. Therefore, even though making decisions was the most popular statement, making difficult decisions was the most impactful statement.

Seriously, let's think about this. Everyone makes decisions. You have to decide if you are going to get out of bed every day. You have to decide if you are going to say good morning to someone else. You have to decide what to eat each day. Making decisions is too common an action to say about a leader. It truly comes down to making the difficult decisions that others do not want to make. Way back when I was a new administrator, I remember sitting in a meeting with a student, school counselor, and angry parent. They were all staring at me waiting for me to decide whether the student was going to be suspended. Mom had a scowl, the student looked afraid, and the school counselor had a look like, “Come on, man! You can do this!” At that moment, I realized the importance of making hard decisions as a leader.

Making hard decisions isn't easy, but someone has to do it. Some people tend to pull others into the issue so that they don't have to make the hard decisions alone and it's not all on them. Leaders don't always have the opportunity to do that. Yes, they might get the input from others to help them, but it usually rests on their shoulders. Later on, in the book I'll share with you specifically the five levels of decision-making. Not only do leaders have to make the hard decisions but they have to stick to them and make sure that others stick with their decisions. With that said, I ask again: Is that a common trait? Walk into difficult situations on a regular basis, make difficult decisions, and get others to follow those decisions. Does that person blend in with everyone else, or does he, she stand out and stand tall as a Leader?

Making hard decisions isn't easy, but someone has to do it.

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