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Power Point #2
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Final
EXTRA!
Edition News Headline EXTRA!
Wrong House
Raided
A dozen armed police officers knocked
down the front door of an elderly couple’s
home. They held them at gun point while
they searched the residence for drugs.
The police found no drugs in the home. Later, it was discovered that the lead
officer had inadvertently written down the wrong address. Charging into the
wrong place is the kind of situation that Colin Powell has sought to avoid in life
and when dealing with other nations. Powell, America’s former secretary of
state, has held many leadership positions in which judicious decision-making
has been essential. When he was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he
was known for how carefully he prepared for battles. He would reportedly
order satellite photos, send out scouting patrols, and collect all the intelligence
available before deciding where—or whether—to attack.
COLIN POWELL’S DECISION-MAKING STRATEGY
General Powell, some friends, and I had dinner in Indianapolis
immediately following a success seminar. I was impressed with how alert,
articulate, and informed he was. However, he revealed something about his
decision-making process that surprised me. He told me that if, “after collecting
all the information that was available, a course of action was still uncertain - and
if a decision did not have to be made - then I would wait. Time would often
sort things out.”
One of the most important characteristics of leaders and achievers
is decisiveness: the ability to make tough decisions quickly. Sometimes, the
delaying of decisions can create uncertainty and result in missed opportunities.
On the other hand, what General Powell is saying is that there are times when
deciding too quickly can lead to disastrous consequences.
I have learned this to be true through my own life experiences. If I do
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