From Passive to Powerful Leader in 3 Steps

Do you ever wonder how one leader makes a decision fast and with ease, while another hesitates and stresses? Or how one leader appears to confidently make hard decisions in the moment, while the other unwillingly makes a decision or let’s the circumstance decide for them?

So what separates the powerful decision maker from the passive one?

What I’ve learned is that, well, there are a lot of components that come into play. But, what they all trickle down to is this one question: What do you believe is going to happen as a result of your decision?  It comes down to your perception of the outcome.

If you have a clear picture of success, you will more likely trust your judgment and move on. However, if you have a clear picture of what could possibly go wrong,  you begin to question and stay attached to the situation. You are unable to let go and move forward. You become invested in its failure.

Let’s look at this a bit more closely. A leader who makes decisions with ease is typically certain of their decision. They feel confident in their judgement.  They have an understanding of what they want and what it will take to get it. And they are willing to take risks and course correct until they arrive. 

So they are connected to their vision, they are certain of the outcome, yet they also have the ability to embrace the potential obstacles and distractions that may appear along the way.  They don’t let doubt cloud the outcome.  

And as a result, they are engaged, they understand what needs to be done, they are aware of their priorities, they let their intuition guide them, and they are able to stay above the fear and doubt when they surface. In this space they move from being a passive participant to more assertive in their interactions with others. There is alignment between their inner drive and outer presence.

On the other hand, when you experience stress when making decisions you may feel misaligned with your values (something doesn’t feel right), you may focus on what can go wrong rather than what can go right, and/or you may be connected to a vision that isn’t your own, but instead is what you think it “should” be.

And as a result, you lack clarity on your priorities and let others’ expectations, rules, and opinions guide your decision making. This misalignment leads to passive communication; you rarely share your voice, you are reactive, you appear compliant, but are internally defiant, and you mold your answers and comments to the expectations of others.

So how do you move from passive to powerful as a leader?

1. Reconnect with your vision and be honest with your desires. Ask yourself, where do you want to be in one year, in five years, and when you have reached your destinatino? Get clear on what this looks like and why this success is important to you.

2. Make decisions and take actions aligned with your standards. What is important to you in your life? What are your non-negotiables? And what standards will drive you? Get clear on what’s important so you can set your boundaries.

3. Be assertive in your conversations to ensure you get your point across, listen, course correct, and continue moving forward.

Stay committed to these three steps on a daily basis so you can make fast decisions at the moment with ease, create the success you desire, and unapologetically stand in your power.

Christy Venza is the Founder of Career Loved, a career coaching firm specializing in leading-edge strategies for high-achievers. To read more articles by Christy, visit www.careerloved/blog.

Post Photo by Eva Waardenburg on Unsplash