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An important leadership skill is the ability to accurately predict the consequences of a decision. The potential consequences of any task or activity are the key determinants of how important it really. Projecting the consequences of a decision into the future is a way of evaluating the significance of a decision. Value judgements helps the leader determine what direction to take.

Long-term perspective is the most important attribute in determining leadership success in life and at work. Long-term perspective turns out to be more important than family background, education, race, intelligence, connections or virtually any other single factor.

Attitudes toward time has an enormous impact on behavior and choices. People who take the long view of their lives and careers always seem to make much better decisions about their time and activities than people who give very little thought to the future.

Principle centered leadership has a clear future-centric orientation. It thinks five, ten and twenty years out into the future. These leaders analyze their choices and behaviors in the present to make sure that they are consistent with the long-term future that they desire.

As a principle centered leader you review the consequences of your decisions to hone your decision making skills. Continually ask yourself, “Did the consequences of my decision have a positive impact on the situation and my leadership ability?”

Principle centered leaders have a clear idea of what is really important, and that clarity of vision makes it much easier to make better short term decisions.

By definition, something that is important has long-term potential consequences. Something that is unimportant has few or no long-term potential consequences. Before starting on anything, you should always ask yourself, "What are the potential consequences of the decision you are about to make?"

The clearer you are about your future intentions, the greater influence that clarity will have on what you do in the moment. With a clear long-term vision, you are much more capable of evaluating an activity in the present and to assure that it is consistent with where you truly want to end up.

If there is a task or activity with large potential positive consequences, make it a top priority and get started on it immediately. If there is something that can have large potential negative consequences if it is not done quickly and well, that becomes a top priority as well. Whatever your frog is, resolve to gulp it down first thing.

Motivation requires motive. The greater the positive potential impact that an action or behavior of yours can have on your life, once you define it clearly, the more motivated you will be to overcome procrastination and get it done quickly.

Think continually about the potential consequences of your decisions. Visualization is one of the very best ways to determine your the true priorities at should enter into your decision making process.

Remember, you have the freedom choose, but you do not have the freedom to choose the consequences of your chooses.

Choose carefully

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A UNIQUE POINT OF VIEW

PREDICTING CONSEQUENCES:

AN IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP SKILL