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LEADERSHIP ESSENTIALS SERIES: TIP SEVEN

Writer's picture: James RuleJames Rule




We are all required to make decisions on a daily basis. Naturally, every leader will feel the pressure to make the right decisions, ones that inspire their staff, set the direction of travel and move their organisation or team forward.





This pressure can cause procrastination, delaying making a decision, in order to gather more intelligence (information and viewpoints) or to reflect more deeply on that intelligence. This is particularly prevalent in newly appointed or inexperienced leaders.


Colin Powell had an interesting principal that supported acting decisively and avoiding procrastination. He called it the “40 - 70 Rule”.


Powell was a four-star general, national security adviser and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. He also served during George Bush’s presidency as US secretary of state.


He believed that commanders in the field needed to act when they had between 40% and 70% of the information. Operating with less than 40% and you didn’t have enough information. With more than 70% you would be acting too late!


While we are not all commanders in the field in a military sense, we all lead in some capacity. It may be through our professional role, as a parent or member of our community.


Whatever our leadership role, decisiveness is crucial. Without it, opportunities can be missed, momentum can stall and confidence can be lost.


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