{"id":2667,"date":"2012-11-01T21:14:30","date_gmt":"2012-11-02T04:14:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.scottcochrane.com\/?p=2667"},"modified":"2012-11-02T06:36:46","modified_gmt":"2012-11-02T13:36:46","slug":"how-leaders-use-the-x-factor-to-make-key-decisions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/2012\/11\/01\/how-leaders-use-the-x-factor-to-make-key-decisions\/","title":{"rendered":"How Leaders Use \u201cThe X Factor\u201d To Make Key Decisions"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the most common tools leaders use to make decisions is the tried and true method of listing the pros and cons.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a great tool.<\/p>\n

Except when it doesn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n

The potential flaw in this system is the \u201cX Factor\u201d. Not the Simon Cowell TV show: In leadership, an X Factor is a gut-level instinct that trumps a list of pros and cons, and which might even fly in the face of your rational leadership instincts.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Case in point.<\/p>\n

As my wife Nora and I recently wrestled through the decision as to whether we should remain living in Kelowna, Canada, or relocate to Chicago, Illinois, we dutifully made lists entitled, \u201cShould we stay in Kelowna?\u201d<\/p>\n

Our list was so heavily weighted on staying in Kelowna it very nearly swayed us to remain in our home of 25 years.<\/p>\n

Except that we had failed to take in to account a critical \u201cX Factor\u201d.<\/p>\n

In our case, the X Factor was an issue of trust in God\u2019s provision.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Nora settling into life in Chicago<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While never claiming to have heard an audible voice from God, nonetheless both Nora and I became increasingly aware that God was asking us to set aside our agenda (Kelowna versus Chicago) and instead to focus on the bigger question: \u201cDo we really trust God in every part of our lives?\u201d<\/p>\n

Once we came to terms with the trust question, the other decisions all fell into place.<\/p>\n

In the process we learned three key lessons that could help you when facing your own leadership decisions:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Pros and cons lists are helpful, but they should not be viewed as definitive.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Every decision could be influenced by a hidden X Factor.<\/strong><\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Effective leaders take the time to discern what X Factors might be at play before making a key decision.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The next time you\u2019re faced with a key decision, by all means make out your pros and cons list.<\/p>\n

But don\u2019t be surprised if a \u201cstill small voice\u201d whispers that the key to making the right call might not be found in that list.<\/p>\n

If so, you could be coming face to face with you own leadership X Factor.<\/p>\n

In what ways has an \u201cX Factor\u201d helped you in making key decisions?<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the most common tools leaders use to make decisions is the tried and true method of listing the pros and cons. It\u2019s a great tool. Except when it doesn\u2019t work. The potential flaw in this system is the \u201cX Factor\u201d. Not the Simon Cowell TV show: In leadership, an X Factor is a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[478,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2667","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-featured","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2667","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2667"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2667\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2677,"href":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2667\/revisions\/2677"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2667"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2667"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scottcochrane.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2667"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}