Hey savvy leaders! It’s episode 45! Do you know the skill that makes great leaders great? It may surprise you. This is based on my first-hand experience working with great leaders for over a decade.
You can find the full transcript of today’s episode, episode 45, at crazybigdreams.biz/45.
I’ve seen great leaders not only question their skills in this area but also fully embrace developing them; especially in the last few years.
This skill is the ability to be decisive. To make a decision, with a level of certainty and not look back.
It’s the one differentiator I’ve experienced that helps great leaders gain confidence and get through challenging times as well as keep cruising through the fun times.
Boost Your Confidence As A Direct Sales Leader
It’s important to note, this is a skill. It can be developed. No matter where you feel your current level of confidence is in this area everyone has the opportunity to enhance their skills and to up their abilities.
It’s also important to note, you didn’t get where you are without a solid foundation in decision-making. You’re already great at this. Yet the natural ebbs and flows of a direct sales business can challenge every leader in this area. You could say, it comes with the territory.
Six Steps To Enhance Your Decision-Making Skills As A Direct Sales Leader
I attribute these 6 steps to how I’ve witnessed great leaders rely on themselves to hone their skills with being more decisive. Like a muscle, it gets stronger with every decision.
Step 1: Take Time
I’m not talking about the ability to make quick decisions, although trusting yourself does speed up your time spent deciding. I’m talking about the skill of decision-making. So, step one, take your time to connect with yourself. Turn down the noise. The unsolicited advice. The business of your day. Relax into the process of taking time to make a decision.
Step 2: Consider All Options
When you truly consider all options you put everything on the table. Even the unlikely, far-out-there options. You don’t have to pick up all of them. You’ll only pick up the one that resonates. But to find it, consider all the options available to you.
The one you end up choosing will resonate even more when you leave the rest. It is true, the more you know what you don’t want, the closer you get to what you do.
How Do You Know When The Risks Are Too High As A Direct Sales Leader?
Step 3: Weigh The Consequences
A quick story that will sum this up better than anything else. I was selected as an entrepreneurial special delegate to attend an Inc. 500 Grow Co (Grow Your Company) conference. One of the perks was a front-row seat to the fireside chat facilitated with Sir Richard Branson.
The audience had the opportunity to submit questions ahead of time. My question was chosen and posed to Sir Richard Branson. This was my question “How do you know when you’re investing in your business if you’re risking too much?” and by investing I meant every sense of the word, not just financial, but investing time, blood, sweat, tears, lost sleep, and finances too.
This was his answer. You know it’s too much when you’re not ok with the worst-case scenario. He makes it sound so simple! This has stuck with me. When you’re not ok with the worst-case scenario when it comes to the consequences of your decision, revisit.
Praying Your Way Through Big Decisions As A Direct Sales Leader
Step 4: Pray.
If you’re the praying type, pray about it. Truly, spend time in prayer about it. Not, while sitting in the drop-off line or waiting for your coffee order to come up, but get quiet. Get where you need to be to hear the answers to the prayers you’re sending up.
And if you’re not the praying type, simply talk to the universe. Ask the universe for what you need in your decision-making process and let yourself be amazed.
Step 5: Make a Choice
Actually make a decision. You’ve gotten this far. This step should be turn-key if you’ve done everything to this point. Put a stake in the ground. Decide.
Step 6: Don’t Look Back (yet)
Of course, we always leave room to learn after time passes. But once you’ve made your decision don’t second guess yourself. Trust your process. Trust your abilities.
I remember, years ago, when I was shopping for my wedding dress. I found the one pretty quickly. I’ll never forget the saleswoman that was helping me. She turned to me and said “Now stop looking. You’ve found the one. If you keep trying on dresses you’ll find more. But you’ve found the one, now stop looking.”
It was pure advice because I had already paid for it. It’s not like she was going to lose a sale if I found another dress. It stopped me in my tracks because, honestly, it’s fun to try on wedding gowns! And of course, that’s what I fully intended to do.
She really caught my attention and I took her advice. My dress was perfect and I still think fondly of it today. I’m so glad I didn’t put myself through the back and forth of messing up my decision by continuing to look. Once you’ve decided don’t look back.
Let’s review the 6 steps:
Take your time
Consider all options
Weigh the consequences
Pray
Make a choice
Don’t look back
Remember, decision-making is a skill. You’re already great at it. Use these 6 steps with small decisions to build your strength even more. And when you get to the big decisions you’ll navigate them with ease by relying on your skills and abilities. You’ll enhance your decision-making process and boost your leadership confidence in the process.
The best is yet to come, friend. Always.
