Don’t put off until tomorrow what you could do today. In Seth Godin’s book Linchpin, he says, “late is the first step to not finishing.” Many suffer from analysis paralysis. Trying hard to solve for perfection. Trying hard to not make a mistake. Leaders however think about decision making differently. They have the courage to act and the confidence to own their decision no matter the outcome.
I might, turns into I can. Leaders say I will, instead of I could. I may, becomes I must. I should, changes to I am. Leaders think in the here and now. They understand the importance of being decisive and accountable. They look to the future with a clear understanding of their current circumstances. Leaders are well-rounded. They are continuous learners, who through learning, are constantly challenging their own perspectives, ideas and opinions. Leaders are not afraid to change tact given new information. They are more concerned about getting it right than being right.
In his book Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance, Lou Gerstner conveys a philosophy of “sooner is better than perfect.” Doing things sooner often times requires getting comfortable with uncertainty. The point being, once you have taken action you can always do a course correction. Leaders are constantly acting. They are in perpetual motion. They’re never sedentary or static. They’re fluid, dynamic, evolving.
Leaders know that every journey begins with the first step. Sometimes the step is in the wrong direction. That’s okay. They’re comfortable with change. They’re confident in the midst of ambiguity. They thrive on the thrill of what they can learn. They’re curious. They’re bold.
Be curious. If being curious is too bold of a starting point then be cautiously curious. Strive to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. But act. Taking action provides the leader with learnings. Those learnings add to the leaders inventory of skills, experience and perspectives. With those ingredients the leader is able to garner the followers they need to successfully execute on their vision.
Keep moving. Keep making things happen.
Joseph DeRosa 