Do you have a proven track record of displaying exquisite judgment and making good decisions? The most successful executives I coach have one thing in common. In a turbulent world of constant change, they deal with complex issues by exercising good judgment.
What is the fundamental essence of leadership? Is it the ability to make consistently good judgment calls?
Realistically, leaders are remembered for their best and worst judgment calls, especially when the stakes are high, information is limited and the correct call is far from obvious.
In the face of ambiguity, uncertainty and conflicting demands, the quality of a leader’s judgment determines the entire organization’s fate.
That’s why leadership experts Noel M. Tichy and Warren G. Bennis claim judgment is the essence of leadership. In their popular book, Judgment: How Winning Leaders Make Great Calls (Portfolio, 2007), they write: “With good judgment, little else matters. Without it, nothing else matters.”
Judgment has rarely been discussed in academic or popular publications. Until now, it has been a fairly murky concept. Many assume it’s an inborn trait, but Tichy and Bennis prove it’s a skill that can be developed, refined and nurtured throughout an organization.
In their book, they assert that what really matters is not how many calls a leader gets right, or even the percentage of correct judgment calls. What truly matters is the actual number of important calls he or she gets right.
Effective leaders not only make better calls, but they’re able to pinpoint the make-or-break decisions and get most of them right.
What was the most important decision that you made recently and was it right?
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