Have you recently taken on a new leadership position? While many perks come with the role, more responsibility often means increased pressure to make the best possible decisions.
First and foremost, the decisions you make as a leader are decisions you should make with the best outcome in mind for your organization or team, not yourself. Your decisions will have more ramifications for others than you might expect. This is a unique responsibility that is entrusted to those in leadership positions.
Additionally, it is important to consider different stakeholders that have an interest in the activities of your organization or team. As an example, stakeholders in DECA may include members, advisors, school administrators, business partners, volunteers, future employers, etc.
Great decision-makers often have a great deal of emotional intelligence, exceptional management skills and reliable instincts. Contrary to the conceptions of many, these are skills that can be learned and nurtured over time.
- To grow your emotional intelligence, you need continually self-reflect and be willing to receive criticism. By understanding your own behavior, you are more likely to understand others.
- Having exceptional management skills is critical because without them it is unlikely that the people will buy into your leadership. To have exceptional leadership skills, you need to effectively communicate with your team and build a foundation of trust.
- When people refer to someone as having great instincts, that often means they have a great intuition. In other words, they understand something without the need for much active thought. This often develops with repetition over time in a given role. However, your intuition can always be improved by being curious and always asking questions.
