How Do C-Level Leaders Make Their Decisions?

"A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers." - Plato

Some of the participants ask me questions during my leadership development training programs, the reasons for my success in spite of not having formal higher education from educational institutions. I tell them that I have passion to learn and grow since childhood. I enjoy reading books regularly. While traveling also, I have the practice of carrying at least one book to acquire knowledge and utilize my time. I have cultivated this habit since childhood. Also, I carry a notebook and pen throughout the day to jot down the ideas that pop up in my mind. Such habits with my consistent and persistent efforts helped me achieve success despite having several limitations such as money, resources and regular education.

I discovered my passions towards the area of learning and leadership, and I started to work constantly on these areas. Whenever I read books on leadership, executive education and CEOs I get excited. Whenever I interact with students I get energized. I discovered my passions; realized the areas to work; and the people to serve. Therefore, I created my vision to build one million students as global leaders by 2030.

I started stretching and acquired new abilities and skills. I come out of my comfort zone to stretch myself. I began taking risks and experimented in several areas. I failed in many areas but I learned lessons quickly and reinvented myself. In fact, stretching helps you grow as a great leader. Unfortunately, most people get complacent and remain in their comfort zones. You must stretch yourself in the early stage of your life to grow gradually as a leader. The kind of experience and the lessons you learn when you stretch cannot be learned in educational institutions. It is for this reason, educational institutions emphasize on extracurricular activities to encourage students to grow as leaders. Students learn many things like resolving conflicts; managing diversified people; and building teams to achieve the desired objectives.

Globally lots of leadership talent and potential is lying untapped. Many people are born and dead without realizing their potential. If you can make people realize their potential; help them utilize their time; channel their energies in a right direction; and inspire them to stretch themselves, you can build great leaders who can make a difference to the world. I am doing it through my 'Vision 2030: One Million Global Leaders'.

Do Leaders Depend on their Team of Advisors to Make Decisions?

In my leadership development training program, one of the senior leaders of a prestigious company asked me, "How do C-level leaders make their decisions?" I explained to him as follows:

Leaders reach high positions based on various skills including technical, human and conceptual skills. After reaching C-level positions, they find it tough to have access to authentic organizational information. Hence, they build a team of advisors based on proven consistent record. After building the team, they listen to all sources and gather information. Based on the availability of information, they go by their head, heart and gut to make decisions. They are aware that all decisions don't succeed. Some of them go wrong. They learn lessons from their mistakes and improve their decision making skills.

The leaders assess the quality of information, ideas and insights received from their team of advisors. If they find that a particular advisor's ideas and suggestions fail consistently, they will replace with another advisor with proven consistent track record. They build the team of advisors not only based on their expertise but also on trust and confidence.

Leaders must make decisions whether they have access to information or not. If they have access to information, they find themselves in a comfortable position to make decisions. But making decisions without any access to information is more challenging as it leads to uncertainty and complexity. In this case, leaders make their decisions based on their knowledge, experience and gut. Great leaders don't mind when some of their decisions go wrong as they respect failures. But they learn lessons from their failures quickly and move forward with confidence and mettle. They also respect the failures of others and encourage them to learn lessons to grow quickly.

It is essential for leaders to make decisions at each level of management in organizations. However, it is a big challenge once you reach C-level position as your decision impacts more number of people. Hence, as a leader, you must be careful to make decisions at the senior level.

Whether you are a CEO or a political leader or of any area, you must build a team of experts based on their areas of interest. You must trust them and seek their ideas and insights regularly before making strategic decisions. You must weigh both pros and cons before making any decision. After making a decision, you must take feedback to improve your decision making skills.