
When I think of leaders who did this well, I often think of Kelly Johnson, an aviation pioneer and one of Lockheed Martin’s legendary leaders. Instead, you want to foster a collaborative culture – where everyone feels a shared stake in forging the best path toward success. You don’t want to build a combative culture – where people find fault just for the sake of it. Of course, this is easier said than done.

And when they disagree with you, they can’t be afraid to say so. So you need people at every level who have the courage to honestly tell you what’s working and what’s not. The higher you rise in an organization, the farther you are from the front line.
#GREAT LEADERS MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS FULL#
Seek them out! Build a team full of people who complement your skills and fill in your gaps.ģ. So if you’re a leader, don’t feel threatened by experts who are smarter in certain subject areas or better at certain skills. And second, you’ll make the wrong decisions. If you convince yourself you know everything, two things will happen.
#GREAT LEADERS MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS HOW TO#
Great leaders have to know their strengths, their weaknesses, and how to succeed with both. Hire people smarter than you, and listen to them. When you foster an environment that embraces and celebrates differences, your team will come up with more creative ideas and better ways of moving forward.īy cultivating a culture of inclusion, where everyone’s experience is valued for the insights they can bring, you’ll have the best information available when the time comes to make a decision. Then make sure that all these unique perspectives are heard and included in your work. Seek out people with different backgrounds, different experiences, and different points of view.

Yet if you rely on the same types of people all the time, you will never move beyond the status quo.ĭiversity is the key to innovation. It’s human nature to gravitate toward people who are similar to you. Somebody who thinks a little differently can help to see problems as opportunities and inspire creative energy within a group.” Legendary entrepreneur and business leader Richard Branson once said, “Don’t be afraid of hiring mavericks.

Surround yourself with people who are different from you. Here are three ways you can ensure you are always making smart decisions, whatever your role:ġ. Every position comes with critical choices every single day. Of course, you don’t need to be an executive to make important decisions. That’s why I strive to foster an environment where I can get the best thinking from my team, hear the best advice from the experts, and make the best decisions for the organization. That’s why the best leaders surround themselves with people who offer diverse opinions, complement their abilities, and aren’t afraid to suggest a different approach. When tackling a difficult decision, a person’s skills and experience will only get them so far. Yet it’s how they make those decisions that set the best leaders apart. We all know that leaders need to make tough decisions every day.
