Zobel de Ayala, the former CEO of Ayala Corporation, a conglomerate based in the Philippines, initially focused on traditional business ventures like manufacturing, and agricultural business before turning his attention to emerging industries such as tech, real estate, and infrastructure. Although his initial neglect of these new industries was a mistake, his strong leadership, decisiveness, and visionary approach have helped Ayala Corporation become a highly successful conglomerate in the international market.
As a leader, possessing the trait of decisiveness is crucial. It’s worthwhile to delve into the meaning of decisiveness and explore ways to cultivate this skill in our leadership.
I like the idea of starting to acknowledge that a leader may not be decisive due to a lack of confidence, difficulty making complex decisions, fear of failure, or an overly cautious or conservative approach to decision-making.
In certain instances, a leader may face trust issues from their team or lack adequate knowledge to make a sound decision. Poor management and leadership, as well as low morale, effectiveness, and productivity in the team, may result from such situations.
In the case of Zobel de Ayala, according to business reviews, he has always been determined to take calculated risks. Rather than playing it safe, he has always been willing to go against the grain and challenge convention when he feels the circumstances call for it. Through his leadership, Ayala Corporation continues to be one of the most respected and influential companies in more than 30 countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Cambodia, India, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and the United States.
As we explore how to enhance our leadership skills, it’s important to consider the value of decisiveness. To develop this quality, let’s follow these five (5) steps. As you read through them, think about how often you employ these tactics in your daily routine. If you need assistance with your next steps, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to support your growth.
- Know what you want to achieve. Understand where you want to see yourself, your team, or your business; this gives you purpose, vision, and mission.
- Take some time to research, gather all the necessary information to make an informed decision, and consider all options. This includes researching the issue or opportunity, consulting with experts, and gathering feedback from stakeholders. Further, weigh the pros and cons of each option and weigh up the potential consequences of each decision.
- Set deadlines once you’ve done your research. Set strict deadlines for yourself when it comes to making decisions. Make sure you respond to potential opportunities in a timely fashion and move forward with decisions quickly.
- When you decide, stick with it. Trust your gut and make a decision without fear; stay the course and don’t second-guess yourself. Know that there is no perfect action, and you can adjust along the way if needed. Commit to decisions you’ve made, even when things don’t go as planned.
- Continue developing yourself personally and professionally to gain a better understanding of yourself and the world around you. This can help you become more comfortable with taking risks and be more decisive when necessary. You will be able to look at a situation from different perspectives and have the self-awareness to know when you might need more information or advice.
For many leaders, the process of improvement involves the whole team, not just an individual’s efforts. Therefore, these five (5) steps can be implemented collectively at a team level as well. In today’s teams and organizations, it is essential to cultivate a culture of confidence and perseverance.
We welcome you to enhance your leadership skills by not only aiming to improve your decision-making abilities but also by creating more efficient and confident teams, resulting in the betterment of your organization.
Question: How can you become a more decisive leader?