Making Decisions Like a Leader
"A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others." – Douglas MacArthur.
C-suite executive support professionals can develop management skills, but what makes one a great leader?
A great leader has many qualities, and one of them is decisiveness. When you envision a successful leader, you don't think of someone who is unclear or uncertain. Instead, they’re viewed as someone who can arrive at decisions quickly and clearly communicate their goals to others. They have a way of engaging support, enlisting allies and those who will readily advocate their vision.
Leaders often have to make tough decisions in the workplace. As administrative professionals, challenges are also part of the workday. Working in ambiguous circumstances has been a recurring theme over the pandemic. There have been many moments when rapid decisions have been made without the usual consultation.
What separates great leaders from others is that they know how to balance emotion and reason.
They make decisions for the benefit of their employees, stakeholders, customers, and the overall organisation. Making the right decision in challenging situations is not easy. These decisions often involve a lot of stress, uncertainty, and pushback from others. However, keeping the overarching objective, mission, vision and values of the organisation top of mind, such decisions are bound to be seen as a good move that addresses the priorities.
Virgin founder, Sir Richard Branson, has said: "smart leaders know to make a decision based on the specific nuances of each issue."
Top executive assistants know how to identify these nuances, including the underlying motivations that drive the stakeholders involved. And this requires a high EQ ( Emotional Intelligence). Being able to understand and manage the emotions of others is the mark of outstanding leadership.
Having a high EQ means that you are self-aware and culturally competent. EQ also involves self-management and relationship management. Your executive assistant skills are already primed and attuned to the nuanced skills and attributes that allow you to manoeuvre stakeholder networks.
Self-awareness helps you assess yourself accurately and makes you more aware of your feelings, thoughts, and actions. Cultural competence helps you understand the feelings, thoughts and actions of others and makes you more relatable to them.
Self-management gives you the ability to adapt to change, better control your emotions, and have an optimistic outlook on life. Strong relationship management skills are critical to great leadership. These skills are guided by the "help me help you" principle that can inspire and influence more readily.
Great leaders are aware of their emotions but not blinded by them. Their exceptional communication skills help them express their decisions calmly and clearly, even when experiencing intense emotions within themselves and from others. Training courses, like The Power EA International Masterclass that focus on developing your global skills, particularly communication, are a must for C-level assistants.
It's not unique for leaders to face high-stakes situations regularly, even ones that have a potential downside. Jeff Bezos and Sir Richard Branson have a "two-way door and one-way door" decision-making process that they use when making tough decisions. A one-way door approach means you’ve done your due diligence because there’s no way back. A two-way door approach leaves room for options.
In most cases, leaders don't have the luxury of time and need to make quick decisions. Stress is natural in such situations, but experienced leaders avoid letting stress influence their choices. Being in highly stressful situations is not conducive to making long-term, strategic decisions. However, strong leaders exert emotional self-control and, therefore, make intelligent decisions that positively impact everyone.
Excellent leaders don’t overthink an issue, as it can weaken their decision-making power and undermine confidence. Our thoughts are powerful forces that can create problems that were never there. Rely on your knowledge about a subject. Sticking to facts is key.
Decision-making by Executive Assistants
As an expert in your area, you understand your role, the role of your manager, and your organisation's business nature. You, therefore, have all the essential intelligence needed to address decisions strategically and with consideration of the nuances. Adopting this approach will help you make decisions like a leader that will result in more rapid career development and success.