Life is a continuous series of choices. What is true of life is also true of leadership. The life of a leader is filled with a continuous series of choices. Leaders must make one choice after another every day of their lives to function in their roles as leaders. Not all leadership choices are created equal. Some leadership choices carry more weight than others. Some leadership choices impact the lives of people more than others. Some leadership choices have more significant consequences than others. What are the most important choices a leader can make on any given day? What are the choices that leaders make that most impact the motivational levels and morale of their people on a daily basis? What are the choices that leaders make that most impact the culture of their organizations on a daily basis? What are the choices that leaders make that most impact interdepartmental cooperation and teamwork within an organization on any given day?
One of the most significant discoveries I have made in the work of leadership development I have been engaged in for decades has been to discover what the most important, crucial, influential, and impactful choices are that leaders make on a daily basis. My discovery has led me to conclude that the four most important choices leaders make are their choices of attitudes, people skills, communication skills, and accountability. I have drawn this conclusion because I equate the concept of leadership primarily with relationally influencing other human beings. We influence others most significantly through the attitudes we choose, through the way that we choose to relate to and communicate with others, and by whether we choose to live accountable, or unaccountable lives. It has been my consistent observation that the best leaders I have observed have been those who possess the best attitudes, people skills, communication skills, and accountability. Conversely, the worst leaders I have observed have been those who possess the worst attitudes, people skills, communication skills, and accountability. Leaders often ask me, “What should I be working on if I hope to take my leadership performance to the next level?” My response is always the same. I encourage them to work on improving their attitudes, people skills, communication skills, and accountability.
There is another amazing discovery I have made through the years. I have discovered that the four most important choices leaders make on any given day, are also the four most important choices their people make on any given day. Leaders often ask me, “What should I be working on with my people if I hope to take their performance to the next level?” My response is always the same. I encourage them to focus on improving the attitudes, people skills, communication skills, and accountability of their people. If you are interested in taking your performance as a leader to the next level, along with the performance of your people, I have some practical advice for you. Invite everyone in your organization, beginning with yourself, to improve their attitudes, people skills, communication skills, and their willingness to be held accountable for their choices and behaviors. All leadership choices are not created equal. As you find yourself making one choice after another as a leader, never forget that these four choices are the most important, crucial, influential, and impactful choices you make every day!
