Wilson Luna Reveals How To Make A Logical Decision: Conscious Leadership Guide

Wilson Luna, Leadership Expert and Author, says that every leader faces daily decisions that impact their team, business, and future. Some decisions are easy, while others require deep thought. But there’s a critical distinction between decisions based on what feels good and those grounded in logic and facts. As a conscious leader, understanding this difference can transform your approach to leadership and decision-making.

In this article, we’ll explore the difference between emotion-based decisions (what we call “below the line” decisions) and logical decision making (what we call “above the line” decisions). By mastering logical decision making, you can avoid the traps of reactive leadership and make smarter choices that lead to better results in your life.

Table of Contents:

• Making Emotional Decisions: Below the Line Decisions

• Making Logical Decisions: Above the Line Decisions

  - Why Logical Decision Making Is Critical for Leaders

• The Danger of Relying on Emotional Decisions

• How to Start Making More Logical Decisions

• Creating a Culture of Logical Decision Making

• Conclusion

Making Emotional Decisions: Below the Line Decisions

Most of us have been taught to “trust our gut” or “go with our feelings.” In leadership, relying on emotions generally leads to poor outcomes. Below the line decisions are those we make based on how we feel, seeking comfort or avoiding discomfort. They can provide quick relief, but they rarely lead to long-term success.

Imagine you’re a leader managing a team member who isn’t meeting expectations. A below the line decision might be to avoid the uncomfortable conversation because you don’t want to deal with the emotional stress. Instead of addressing the issue, you let it slide, which only causes more problems later. In the short term, you avoid feeling bad, but in the long run, your team suffers.

This is the trap of below the line decisions. They’re based on our emotional responses—what feels comfortable at the moment—rather than what’s logically best for the situation. We make these choices to avoid pain or confrontation, but they keep us from addressing the real issues that need fixing.

Making Logical Decisions: Above the Line Decisions

In contrast, above the line decisions are based on logic, data, and facts. As a conscious leader, making decisions this way means stepping back from your immediate feelings and emotions to assess the situation objectively. You look at the bigger picture and long-term consequences rather than what feels right in the moment.

For example, let’s go back to the team member who isn’t performing well. An above the line decision would be to address the issue head-on, scheduling a conversation to discuss their performance and finding a solution. This might feel uncomfortable, but it’s the right move for the long-term success of your team and business. Logical decision making takes into account not just your immediate feelings, but the facts and data that will help you achieve your goals.

Why Logical Decision Making Is Critical for Leaders

Great leaders make decisions that benefit the future of their business, not just what feels good in the moment. Logical decision making allows you to separate your personal emotions from the decisions that need to be made, giving you a clear path forward based on facts.

Here are some key benefits of logical decision making:

• Clarity and Objectivity: When you focus on logic rather than emotion, you gain a clearer view of what needs to be done. You remove personal biases and focus on what’s best for your business.

• Long-Term Success: Emotional decisions might feel good now, but logical decisions set you up for long-term success. You focus on the bigger picture and create stability for the future.

• Increased Resilience: By using logic and reason, you become more resilient as a leader. You’re less likely to get thrown off course by emotional highs and lows.

• Consistent Results: Leaders who make decisions based on facts rather than feelings are more consistent in their leadership. This builds trust within their team and produces better results over time.

The Danger of Relying on Emotional Decisions

Emotion-driven decisions often lead to inconsistency. When leaders base their choices on what feels good in the moment, they create instability within their teams and organizations. Logical decision making brings the stability and consistency that businesses need to grow.

Some of the consequences of relying on emotional decisions include:

• Unclear Leadership: Emotional decisions make it hard for teams to understand what’s expected of them. This leads to confusion and reduced performance.

• Missed Opportunities: Emotional decision-making prioritizes comfort over risk, causing leaders to miss out on big opportunities.

• Eroded Trust: Teams trust leaders who are consistent and rational. Emotional decision-making can damage that trust over time.

• Stagnation: Without logical decisions, leaders can’t push their organizations forward, leading to stagnation and missed growth potential.

How to Start Making More Logical Decisions

If you’re ready to start making decisions like a conscious leader, here are a few practical steps to ensure you’re choosing logic over emotions:

1. Pause and Reflect: Before making a decision, take a moment to reflect on your emotional state. Are you reacting to a feeling or thinking clearly? This pause can help you avoid making a choice based on a temporary emotional reaction.

2. Gather the Facts: Logical decision making depends on facts and data. Look at the available information before jumping to conclusions. If the decision involves your business, assess the numbers, the team’s performance metrics, or the market trends before deciding.

3. Consider the Long-Term Impact: Emotional decisions often focus on short-term comfort, but logical decisions should prioritize long-term success. Ask yourself how this decision will impact your business or team in the months and years ahead.

4. Use a Framework for Decisions: Create a decision-making framework that helps you stay grounded in logic. This might be as simple as a pros and cons list or a more detailed analysis, but having a structure in place can help guide you to the best choice.

5. Ask for Objective Input: If you’re too emotionally involved in a situation, seek input from someone who can look at it more objectively. A professional coach or advisor can offer valuable perspective that helps you make a logical decision.

6. Separate Ego from the Decision: Many poor decisions are made because leaders get caught up in protecting their ego. Logical decision making requires you to separate yourself from the situation and focus on the facts, not your personal feelings.

Creating a Culture of Logical Decision Making

As a leader, it’s essential to not only practice logical decision making yourself but to encourage it within your organization. Building a culture that values logic and reason will lead to better decisions throughout the business.

Here are some ways to foster logical decision making in your team:

• Lead by Example: Show your team what it looks like to make decisions based on logic, not emotions. When they see you taking the time to evaluate facts and data, they’ll be more likely to do the same.

• Encourage Critical Thinking: Promote a culture where employees feel comfortable sharing their ideas and questioning decisions in a constructive way. Open dialogue leads to better solutions and more logical decision-making.

• Reward Rational Thinking: When employees make smart, logical choices, acknowledge and reward them. This encourages everyone to prioritize logic and reason in their work.

Conclusion

Being a conscious leader means recognizing the difference between emotional, below the line decisions, and logical decision making. The most successful leaders are those who take the time to step back from their feelings, analyze the situation based on data, and make choices that align with long-term success.

By practicing logical decision making, you can build resilience, consistency, and trust as a leader. You’ll also create a more stable and effective organization where decisions are made based on facts rather than emotions.

Even if you're leading yourself, practicing logical decision making will help you stay focused on your goals, make better long-term choices, and avoid being swayed by fleeting emotions or distractions. This approach ensures that you’re consistently moving toward the outcomes you truly want, rather than being driven by short-term comfort or reactive thinking.

Are you ready to shift from emotion-based decisions to decisions grounded in logic and reason?

Ready to take your leadership to the next level? Whether you’re looking to improve your decision-making, enhance team dynamics, or lead more consciously, learn more about my services or simply inquire by clicking the following link: https://www.wilsonluna.com/contact

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