TEDLeads #5. Take The Tough Call. Call The Ball.

Leadership Trait #5 – Take The Tough Call.

Leading from the front? The Buck Always Stops With You.

Leadership Decision-Making 'Must-Haves'. As trait #4 suggests inviting everyone’s input works. To a point. Ted - being a responsible leader - reserves the right to make the final call. When things don't pan out - inevitably, sometimes - the buck stops with the leader. Ted is THE leader. Taking the tough call is an underpinning leadership must-have.

Leadership Decision-Making 'Must-Avoids'. Hiding behind anyone or anything, blaming, shaming, complaining, or explaining. None of these are leadership traits. All of them are designed to AVOID taking responsibility, standing up, and having the courage to say - "It didn't work out and the buck stops with me."

When Ted DECIDES not to bench an ‘aging’ Roy Kent before a key final he over-rules Nate and Beard. They feel strongly that Roy isn't physically up to the challenge and must be benched for the good of the team. They make the case. Ted sticks to his guns. Roy will play.

It feels like an emotional decision from Ted - ‘back-the-captain-at-all-costs’. His choice proves faulty. In training, it becomes visibly clear that Roy's not 'up to it'. Everyone sees it.

Now Ted has the choice - soldier on regardless and stick to his guns, or not. He takes the tough call. He chooses to reverse his original decision and go back on a promise to Roy.

Tough Call vs Indecision. Ted changes his mind. Changing one's mind as a leader can be risky. For some, it spells the end of their leadership - especially if there’s a leadership feeding-frenzy in progress - see most political systems - sharks smelling blood in the water, piranhas circling, and a Press with the power to take any leader down.

A leader who changes their mind could look indecisive IF they've done a poor job of enrolling followers, leading with integrity, building respect, and don't fess up clearly.

It’s always a little awkward (and humbling) to go back on a promise. It's much easier to blindly continue vs take a risk. Choosing to be a leader who's 'not for turning' despite obvious, possibly damaging consequences may sound strong. In fact, it can prove disastrous. It takes greater courage to step up, stand out, and change your mind in service of a better result. Isn't this a core skill of any leader?

Responsible leaders enroll their followers and have their trust. With this in place, they have the power to 'fess-up', change direction, perspective, re-open discussions, and deliver better outcomes. If you have the hearts and minds of your followers you've earned your role as THE decision-maker and need not fear negative fall-out. Most people (honestly) know a good decision when they see one and honour intregrity,

Take courage. Put ego aside.

Now take the tough call.

And, in this writer's opinion, REAL leaders don't care much about personal fall-out - they care about the best outcome for all, based on what they know, their judgment, and doing whatever it takes. They invite trust and build respect. Being rigid, controlling, dogmatic, and soldiering on regardless do the opposite, they disempower anyone else from contributing.

In this case, reversing his decision leads Ted into a short-term ‘blow up’ with Roy who feels betrayed. Luckily Roy’s a grown-up and so is Ted. Although Ted promised Roy he’d not be benched everyone knows it's the best call for the team. Roy is also a responsible leader. As any captain worth their salt knows it's the team that counts vs one man's position or ego. Roy's that kind of leader.

“The needs of the many outweigh

the needs of the one.”

Notice that Ted’s indecision – to-bench-or-not-to-bench – initially causes more problems than it solves - with Beard, Nate, and Roy. Sometimes sticking to your guns decisively isn't the wisest course of action - it's just another humbling, learning opportunity!

It’s when Ted stands back, takes a hard look at what makes sense for the team that he makes the tougher call - and everybody wins. What about you?

1. How comfortable are you taking the tough call when it could backfire?
2. What about admitting you were wrong?
3. What about taking responsibility for less than ideal results?
4. Where is your ego in all this?

Next up on TEDLeads -- Leadership Trait #6 - Stay Flexible...