March 2010
Leadership Development Ideas - The Leader’s Sixth Sense: Decision-Making
(Reflections from "Courageous Leadership" by Bill Hybels)
What is it that enables some leaders to have a kind of ‘knowing’ that is intuitive and perceptive beyond what is considered ‘normal?’ What’s their compass for suggesting a course of action when everyone else in the room seems confused and wallowing around in murky waters? Bill Hybels has done a lot of thinking about this and has come up with some suggestions for leaders:
- What are your bedrock beliefs? What are the deep convictions that inform your decision-making? Usually poor decision-making starts with faulty belief systems. He suggests that leaders evaluate what their core convictions are (bedrock beliefs) and see how they inform their beliefs. Example: ‘People aren’t as important as programs.’ One can imagine how this belief system can sabotage a people-driven program.
- What would other leaders do? Knowing other leaders that you respect, you feel are wiser and more gifted is critical. Following the path of the decisions those leaders have made in similar circumstances can save a leader from making poor choices. No one leader has all the answers. There is wisdom in consulting older, wiser men.
- Consult a ‘risk-assessment’ mentor. Find a mentor that you trust and consult him often.
- Pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit. This should be obvious, but not often included. When a leader combines the promptings of the Holy Spirit with other sources of decision making, that leader will operate with ever-increasing levels of decision-making prowess-a sixth sense.
Read the other articles in this issue:
|
