Some people are too weak to make decisions that are even critical to their lives.
That will not make you a successful leader.
Decisiveness is the greatest attribute of a leader.
Here are a few tips to help you make those decisions that will make you a good leader.
• 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.
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 tried to take the throne from him earlier.
Solomon's first act of strength was to eliminate all possible traitors and wicked elements in his kingdom.
When God told me to be a pastor, it took a lot of strength to forge ahead into God’s will.
When I started in ministry, I was surrounded by people who did not believe in me.
I had to eliminate the scoffers in my life and did just that!
No one can prosper if disloyal scorners surround him.
You need an environment of encouragement and peace.
That decision was necessary to forge ahead in a healthy atmosphere, yet it required a lot of bravery.
• Looking ahead
Every organisation needs to survive and continue to operate.
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 turn out for the good of the whole nation.
If Solomon had not considered the future, he would not have made that decision.
• Consequences, not taking decisions
Abraham was very close to his nephew Lot.
One day, he faced the painful reality that his nephew’s presence in his life was causing more harm than good.
Being a good leader, he took the decision and separated from his nephew.
The consequence of failing to take this decision would have been strife. And it would not have been worth it.
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 Abraham specifications of his lands and blessings.
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 forever; Genesis 13:14-15
• Speed!
Note that it is important to move quickly when it comes to decision-making.
Solomon was advised by his father 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.
David told Solomon to eliminate Joab.
…let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace; 1 Kings 2:6
When the information came in, Solomon decided to execute Joab immediately.
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.
Solomon's decisiveness at the beginning of his reign took him very far.
…And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon; 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
