High Performance Leaders Make the Tough Choices

Are you ever faced with tough choices?

As leaders, we are often forced to choose between and uncomfortable decision and one that impacts people in negative ways. How do we make budget cuts without cutting people?

How do we change our direction without leaving some valuable people behind? How do we innovate while maintaining our cash flow?

These and more frequently create the need for quick and decisive actions.

Centered leaders make the tough choices without regrets or blame.

That takes a balanced, experienced, and practiced amount of clarity, courage, creativity, and compassion.

Clarity to know your vision and mission and all that includes (and does not include).

Courage to make the tough decisions even when they may be unpopular. The strength to get the help you need in making those decisions and in pushing questions forward to get what may be unspoken or hidden answers.

Creativity to find solutions that expand your possibilities, rather than limit them. Taking the chances to discover what you don't know, to combine unique ideas into revolutionary ideas, and to make something out of what appears to be nothing.

Compassion to consider the needs and feelings of other people. Treating people with respect and honor. Finding ways to keep dignity at the forefront of all of your relationships.

No, it's not always easy. That's part of the reason that not everyone is equipped to lead.

Centered leaders make the tough choices without regrets or blame, but with plenty of help.

Who can help you today with your toughest decision?

-- Douglas Brent Smith

Developing Leadership Skills

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