Why decisive leaders earn respect

Some moments shift your perspective. My moment arrived in an email from my boss with a simple subject line: “You should take a look at this presentation as it will prepare you for your new role.” Attached was a deck titled How to be a creative director without sucking at it by Rodd Chant. It was about how to reshape the approach to leadership.

The presentation was full of insights, but one slide stood out and stopped me cold: Make decisions.

Two simple words. But they landed with weight.

I thought back to the most frustrating leadership moments I’d experienced over my career. Times when progress stalled, morale dipped, and teams struggled to stay on course. The common thread was indecision. Leaders who hesitated, deferred, or avoided making the call. Leaders who chose based on fear of being wrong rather than belief in what was right.

That document didn’t just offer advice. It sparked a moment of clarity. I realized that my respect for leaders had always been tied to their willingness to decide, especially when the stakes were high and the answers weren’t obvious.

The foundation of leadership

As I stepped into the biggest leadership role of my career, I made a promise to myself that decision making wouldn’t be just one skill in my toolkit, but the foundation of my leadership.

This doesn’t mean making decisions hastily or pretending to have all the answers. Instead, it’s about recognizing that leadership requires clarity and courage. It means taking the time to understand the situation, listening to others, and then choosing a direction you’re willing to stand behind. Even when the path forward is uncertain, leaders must be willing to make bold moves and lead with purpose.

Every decision you make—or avoid—tells your team something about you. Remember, they are always paying attention and asking themselves:

• Can I trust this person to make tough calls?
• Will they stand behind their choices?
• Do they see the bigger picture?

My goal is for my team to answer “yes” with confidence, optimism, and respect. Not because I always have the perfect answer, but because I consistently choose to lead with conviction and courage.

Kelly Hiller is the chief marketing officer of Purdue University.