HOW SUCCESSFUL LEADERS MAKE DECISIONS We are all

We are all permanent students of leadership; no one ever graduates from learning how

Leadership and Decision Making Effective decision making defines those who • lead themselves well

Life is all about decision making and particularly, so with leadership. .

Why Decision Making or Decisiveness is important? • Indecision can be catastrophic because I

10 Princinples that Guide the Decision Making of Sucessful Leaders.

1. They have Clear definition of the Opportunity or the Problem the decision seeks

President Akuffo. Addo’s and the decision about lockdown- Covid_19 pandemic.

2. They ask why the problems matter and require their attention and decision. •

a) Family Level : The Hebrew, Mordecai in the Book of Esther of the

National Level: President Mahama’s decision to make Ghana a host of UN hub against

3. They gather information (including emotions, interest and influence) to understand the context. They

4. They break big decisions into small pieces.

5. They Have A Clear Mental Picture or Definition of the Successful Outcome •

6. They consider various alternatives or scenarios and their relative advantages and disadvantages.

7. They focus on high value opportunities or the most binding challenge.

8. They set binding but reasonable deadlines to their decisions.

9. They have back-up plans for shocks or surprises.

10. They ” fail forward” or push through failures as part of the journey

Conclusion • Indecision can be catastrophic. • Uncertainties and shocks are real : Covid-19

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HOW SUCCESSFUL LEADERS MAKE DECISIONS

We are all permanent students of leadership; no one ever graduates from learning how to lead.

Leadership and Decision Making Effective decision making defines those who • lead themselves well to achieve their personal goals and • inspire and influence others to set goals and achieve them. • are sucessful in shaping the destiny of nations.

Life is all about decision making and particularly, so with leadership. .

Why Decision Making or Decisiveness is important? • Indecision can be catastrophic because I perceive life as a ” problem- solving expedition”. • Uncertainties and shocks are real : Covid-19 Pandemic is teaching as more. • Life is dynamic : new facts and information emerge in every second; optimal strategies yesterday may fail today or erode all previous gains tomorrow. • Understanding of how things work under normal circumstances- • Possibility of Shocks and how to manage the shocks.

10 Princinples that Guide the Decision Making of Sucessful Leaders.

1. They have Clear definition of the Opportunity or the Problem the decision seeks to address. • Dr. Nkrumah and Liberation of Africa. • “The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked-up with the total liberation of the African Continent. ”

President Akuffo. Addo’s and the decision about lockdown- Covid_19 pandemic.

2. They ask why the problems matter and require their attention and decision. • Successful leaders are conscious of the negative consequences of their indecisions and are driven by a sense of responsibility.

a) Family Level : The Hebrew, Mordecai in the Book of Esther of the Old Testament of the Holy Bible (Esther 2: 7). What would have happened if Mordecai had not taken responsibility of Esther’s life from childhood to the palace ? b) Corporate Level: Timothy Berners-Lee and other researchers at the CERN nuclear research -Switzerland in Geneva in 1989 laid the foundation for the World Wide Web or the Web. , which has changed our way of life today.

National Level: President Mahama’s decision to make Ghana a host of UN hub against Ebola-2014 c) • “Ebola is a problem that belongs to the world because it is a disease that knows no boundaries, ………………What makes Ebola so dangerous is that the virus dares us to compromise the impulses that exist at the very core of our humanity: our impulse to comfort one another with love; to care for each other with the healing power of touch; and, • to maintain the dignity of our loved ones even in death with a public funeral and properly marked grave, ……… Yet, we cannot afford to let fear keep us away. We cannot afford to let it compromise the very impulses that not only define but retain our humanity. We must erase the stigma. ”

3. They gather information (including emotions, interest and influence) to understand the context. They ask themselves and others questions to know: • the conflicts and ambiguities. • who is affected by the decision • Power and authority • whether abrupt or incremental approach is suitable.

4. They break big decisions into small pieces.

5. They Have A Clear Mental Picture or Definition of the Successful Outcome • “…… I still have a dream. it is a dream deeply of their Decisions. rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal…. . I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today. ”

6. They consider various alternatives or scenarios and their relative advantages and disadvantages.

7. They focus on high value opportunities or the most binding challenge.

8. They set binding but reasonable deadlines to their decisions.

9. They have back-up plans for shocks or surprises.

10. They ” fail forward” or push through failures as part of the journey to success.

Conclusion • Indecision can be catastrophic. • Uncertainties and shocks are real : Covid-19 Pandemic is teaching us more. • Life is dynamic : new facts and information emerge in every second; optimal strategies yesterday may fail today or erode all previous gains tomorrow. • understand how things work under normal circumstances • Acknowledge the possibility of shocks and how to manage the shocks.