Leading in and through a turbulent season requires extraordinary judgement. You must be able to make quick decisions and to respond to ever-shifting circumstances.
Good judgement is the key to unlocking good decisions.
Good judgement allows you to size up a challenging situation, and to make the right call.
Good judgement allows you to examine a fork-in-the-road moment and to discern the appropriate path.
And because good judgement is so vital a component in leadership, any dynamic that can weaken your judgement must be quickly identified, and eliminated. Which is why you need to pay particular attention to these…
5 Dangerous Judgement Crushers:
1. Rage
Have you ever made your best leadership decision while in a fit of rage? Let me answer that for you; no, you haven’t.
When anger gets the best of you it can cause you to lash out and to make a quick, even savage decision. But this is not you at your best. Whatever sparked the rage, let it subside. Cool down, and then lead.
2. Fatigue
Drowsiness and good judgement never go together. When you allow yourself to become sleep-deprived, suddenly the weight of simple decision-making can feel ponderous and even over-whelming.
Take a nap before you make a decision you’ll regret.
3. Public opinion
You believe the right decision is “No”. Everyone else seems to think it should be “Yes”.
They can’t all be wrong, can they?
Actually, they can be.
All of those voices can mess up your judgement. Listen to advisors and take into account public opinion. But leadership isn’t a democracy. Tune out the noise and make the call.
4. Hubris
The moment you begin to feel entitled or invincible, your good judgement has already been compromised.
Humility can be the best friend of good judgement.
5. Pressure
Pressure is a fact of life in leadership. But unbridled, unrelenting pressure will hamper your better judgement.
Deal with the pressure first. Then deal with the decisions.
In challenging times, you will face situations in which your good judgement will play a key role in determining the best outcome.
Armed with good judgement your chances of coming out ahead are greatly enhanced. So pay attention to these judgement-crushers.
And don’t let them rob of you of your most important leadership weapon.
