Decisiveness is the greatest attribute of a leader.
You will not make a successful leader if you are too weak to even make decisions that are critical to your own life.
You need a few things to help you make those decisions that will make you a good leader.
Let these keys guide you in your journey of decision-making.
Bravery
Bravery is one of the most important keys to decision-making. You need courage to make good decisions.
King David instructed Solomon to be strong. He knew that Solomon would need strength to be decisive.
David knew that decisiveness was the greatest attribute Solomon would need.
That is why David told Solomon to be strong!
I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong, therefore, and shew thyself a man; 1 Kings 2:2
Because I am a leader, I understand the importance of this instruction.
Without strength, you cannot be decisive.
Every organisation needs a strong leader to move it forward.
Democracy and committees are not necessarily helpful. What you need is strong leadership.
Solomon went ahead and eliminated his brother Adonijah, who had earlier tried to take the throne from him.
The first act of strength that Solomon performed was to eliminate all possible traitors and wicked elements in his kingdom.
No one can prosper if he is surrounded by disloyal scorners.
A leader needs an environment of encouragement and peace.
That decision to eliminate Adonijah was necessary for Solomon to forge ahead as a leader in a healthy atmosphere.
Yet, it required a lot of bravery.
Looking ahead
Looking ahead and seeing the evils that lie ahead helps a leader to make decisions that will cause him to survive and continue to exist.
Survival is key to the continuity of any organisation.
For instance, a good manager can see that he needs to take the hard decision of cutting down on his excess workforce, so that the whole company will not be forced to close down because of the inability to stay afloat.
Know that the decision you are taking now will turn out for good!
Solomon knew that eliminating his brother Adonijah would be for the good of the whole nation. If Solomon had not considered the future, he would not have taken that decision.
Being aware of the consequences of not making decisions
Abraham was very close to his nephew Lot.
One day, he had to face the painful reality that his nephew’s presence in his life was causing more harm than good.
Being a good leader, he made the decision and separated from his nephew.
The consequence of failing to take this decision would have been the destruction of their relationship through strife.
And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
Is not the whole land before thee? Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. Genesis 13:8,9
Notice that it was after this decision that God gave him specifications of the lands and blessings that were his.
And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. Genesis 13:14-15
Speed!
Note that it is important to move with speed when it comes to decision-making.
David told Solomon to get rid of Joab.
The only information that Solomon needed was his father’s instruction.
Joab was someone who had disobeyed David on several occasions.
…let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace. 1 Kings 2:6
When the information came in, Solomon decided to immediately execute Joab.
David also asked Solomon to deal with Shimei.
Shimei was someone who cursed King David when he was running away from Absalom.
…thou hast with thee Shimei… hold him not guiltless… 1 Kings 2:8,9
You will notice that after Solomon fulfilled his father’s instructions, the kingdom of Israel became established under his rule.
The decisiveness of Solomon at the beginning of his reign took him very far.
…And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon. 1 Kings 2:46
Because Solomon was decisive, his kingdom was established.
Many good leaders become distinct because of their decisions.
May you be a leader who makes decisions and implements them!
The writer is the founder of the Lighthouse Group of churches.
E-mail: theaol@ymail.com
