What makes a person possess great leadership? Is it inborn and available only to a select few? No, anybody can be an exceptional leader and one quality that they have is this-the ability to make and keep good decisions. This is the secret of success. Discover more about decision making styles and how it can help you become the leader you were meant to be.

There are a lot of sources that will tell you the best ways on how to reach a decision. Actually, there is no absolute right or wrong way because every person has their style and personalities that make it work. It is how you approach a situation and use what you have around you to your best advantage. You need to be able to act decisively and adjust when unplanned circumstances arise.

1. Decisive. These are usually the people who have gained a higher self awareness and have a finely tuned gut feel for situations that they face. They are able to decide with even limited information and immediately set about in creating and performing the steps needed to fulfill their goal. They seldom change their minds and stick to their original choice at all times.

2. Flexible. Flexible individuals are not as stubborn in holding on to the original plan. They are flexible and are able to flow easily from one transition to the next when new information or situation arises. Small business owners often belong to this particular category.

3. Integrative. These people gather a lot of data about the matter that they need to know about. When they have studied all the relevant data and resources, they do not take just one option. They have several solutions that they make available for them.

4. Hierarchical. These decision makers are similar to integrative decision makers in making sure they collect large amounts of information regarding the problem or situation; however they differ by selecting only one decision that they feel is the best one. They are oftentimes extensive in their preparations in the execution of their decisions.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each decision making style. Sometimes you really have to study all possible scenarios and solutions before you can reach the best decision-and this cannot be done quickly enough for some people. While you shouldn't overly delay a choice you need to make, a thorough and efficient process has proven invaluable to many people.

However, if you believe that your gut is a trustworthy compass that has served you well many, many times-then do what works best for you. Take care not to be reckless and hasty when you pursue your goals.

Effective communication is also invaluable to having success. You will always be around people and improving your assertive communication skills is an essential tool in good leadership. There is no ceiling to what you can do if you are able to express your objectives and inspire cooperation within your team to collectively work towards the goal.

So what among these decision making styles is more like you? Find out who you are and how you can improve yourself so you can enjoy a higher level of living today.