If you call yourself a leader, then you have to be decisive. If

"If you call yourself a leader, then you have to be decisive. If you're decisive, then you have the chance to be a leader. These are two sides to the same coin." These words spoken by Narendra Modi, the current Prime Minister of India, encapsulate a timeless truth about the nature of leadership. In this statement, Modi conveys that leadership is not a title or a position, but a responsibility that demands action and clarity of purpose. To be a leader is to make decisions, to act with confidence and resolve, for only in decisive action can a leader inspire and guide others. Leadership, therefore, is not simply about holding power but about taking the difficult steps that others hesitate to take, often in the face of uncertainty and adversity.

In the ancient world, the concept of leadership was often intertwined with wisdom and decisiveness. The Greek philosophers, like Plato and Aristotle, spoke at length about the qualities that a true leader should possess. For Aristotle, a leader had to embody virtue and prudence, but above all, a leader had to act when necessary. He recognized that a person’s potential to lead was not defined by their thoughts alone but by their ability to act decisively when the moment arrived. The leader, in this sense, is the one who makes the difficult decisions for the greater good, even when those choices are fraught with peril.

The story of Alexander the Great is one of the clearest examples of decisive leadership. Alexander, though young, showed an unwavering commitment to his vision of a unified world, and his decisiveness on the battlefield was legendary. At the Battle of Gaugamela, facing the Persian king Darius, Alexander’s ability to act swiftly and decisively, despite overwhelming odds, led to a victory that changed the course of history. His ability to make bold decisions, sometimes in the face of uncertainty, turned the tide of battles and cemented his place in history. For Alexander, the act of deciding was as much a part of his leadership as the vision he held for his empire. It was his decisiveness that gave his vision life.

Modi’s words reflect a truth that is as relevant today as it was in the days of Alexander and the great emperors of the past. Decisiveness is not just about being quick to act; it is about being clear, confident, and resolute. A leader who cannot make decisions is a leader who cannot guide their people through challenges. Leadership demands the courage to face difficult choices and the wisdom to understand that inaction is itself a decision with consequences. To lead, one must be willing to step forward, even when the path ahead is unclear, and take action that moves others toward a common goal.

The lessons of decisiveness can be seen in more modern history as well. During World War II, the Allied forces needed decisive action in the face of the relentless expansion of Nazi Germany. Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, became the embodiment of decisive leadership. In the darkest days of the war, when Britain stood alone against the Nazi threat, Churchill’s resolute decisions—such as his choice to stand firm against Hitler's advances and his faith in American support—inspired a nation to continue the fight. His words, "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few," spoke not just to the courage of soldiers, but to the power of leadership rooted in decisiveness. His clarity of purpose and refusal to entertain surrender created a moment in history where his decisiveness shaped the future.

The central lesson to be learned from Modi's words is that leadership is not a passive state. A true leader is one who is not afraid to make tough decisions, even when those choices are met with resistance or fear. Decisiveness is the foundation upon which great leadership is built. It is a mark of confidence and clarity, a willingness to face the unknown, and the ability to turn vision into action. Leaders who hesitate, who fail to take responsibility for the choices before them, do not create the change they aspire to lead. Instead, they sow confusion and indecision.

Thus, the call to action here is clear: If you are to lead, be decisive. In your personal life, in your work, in your community, and on the larger stage of society, you must be willing to make decisions and act upon them, even in times of uncertainty. Decisiveness does not mean rushing forward without thought or reflection, but it means trusting your ability to make informed choices and stand by them. Just as the ancients revered leaders who acted with courage and purpose, so too must we embrace the challenge of decisiveness in our own lives. By doing so, we step into the fullness of our potential and create the impact that defines true leadership.