Do you have a framework for making courageous or difficult decisions? If not, allow me to help you construct one.
There comes times in every leader’s life when he or she must make a courageous decision. The stakes are high and a leader’s mettle is tested. The decision made could bring great glory to the leader and success to their team OR conversely, great pain.
Courageous decisions are defining moments for a leader.
Such an event happened this past weekend. The defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs were without superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes. With 1 minute 25 seconds remaining in the game and clinging to a 5-point lead over the Cleveland Browns, head coach Andy Reid was faced with a critical decision. On fourth down and one, should he try to draw the Browns offside and punt leaving the game in the hands of his defense… or should he try to put the game away with a first down? Conventional wisdom said to punt.
These are the type of decisions which define leaders. Watch the following video to see what Coach Reid decided:
All you have to do is listen to CBS broadcast Tony Romo to see the magnitude of Coach Reid’s decision. He loudly proclaimed, “Only Andy Reid gets in the shotgun on fourth-and-one and throws the ball!!!” Afterwards, a victorious Reid held the following news conference:
As we listen to Coach Reid’s thoughts, we can deconstruct the anatomy his courageous decision. It provides a framework for courageous decisions we will be forced to make in the future.
- Rely on your experience.
- Prepare
- Collaborate with your leaders.
- Be positive
- Be courageous yourself
- Don’t flinch
- Be confident
- Boldly communicate the decision
- Ask for more from your team
- Be unified
- Only then you can take action
- But only take action with people you respect.
The following are the quotes are from Coach Reid’s new conference which build the framework for the anatomy above:
- Rely On Your Experience When Making Courageous Decisions – “I’m glad he (back-up quarterback Chad Henne) had an opportunity to play a week or two ago… I think that helped him when he jumped in this time being comfortable with the speed of everything.”
- Prepare Or Repair. Battles Are Won Before They Are Ever Fought. Courageous Decision Should Be Made In Advance. – “We go through those on Saturday nights, situations to win the game. 4th and 1… what do you want?”
- Don’t Leapfrog Leaders. Making Courageous Decisions Is A Collaborative Process, – “My coaches were on board.”
- Stay Positive When Making Courageous Decisions – “Nobody got down. Nobody was hanging their head or moping in the game… Those guys kept battling.”
- Courageous Decisions Are Only Made By Courageous Leaders – “Somewhere you got to reach deep during the tough times and pull that out.”
- Don’t Flinch When Making Courageous Decisions – “If the coaches are flinching it’s not going to happen. The locker room is not going to flinch.”
- Confidence Overcomes Doubt When Making A Courageous Decision – “It’s builds confidence in the coaches. There was no doubt. There was no doubt we were going to go for it and go for that play.”
- Leaders Need To Boldly Communicate Courageous Decisions – “Hey, there’s no tomorrow. Let’s go. Let’s roll.”
- Courageous Decisions Require A Little Extra From Everyone On Your Team – “Everybody just pick your game up a inch and let’s go.”
- Courageous Decisions Require Unity And Alignment – “Have a play ready to go everyone likes. There’s no flinching.”
- There Is Often No Time To Evaluate A Decision When The Time Comes. You Must Make It Immediately and Take Action. – “There’s no time to say anything other than ‘Let’s go.’ You’re trying to win the game. There’s no time. You’ve rehearse that before. There’s not time to talk about it.”
- You Can Only Make Courageous Decisions When You Respect Those Who Carry Them Out – “That’s the part that I think is a tribute to Chad. The way he handles himself. You don’t earn that respect from the coaches and players without handling yourself the right way every day… No one had any doubt.”
For more leadership lessons from Coach Reid, read 6 Leadership Lessons On Acquiring And Properly Utilizing Elite Talent From Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid.
What is one thing you learned from Coach Reid which will help you make courageous decisions in the future?
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