As a leader, it is always important to be able to observe a situation before you respond. We teach and coach students in sports to be able to react to a play or a situation in a moment’s time, and that is well and good, but in leadership, a person must be able not only to react, but to respond, and to respond in a way that is positive and helpful.

We have all had conversations with people or experienced coaches or players who overreact or misreact to a situation because they haven’t taken the time to observe or listen to what is going on. The coach who punishes the wrong player, the boss who doesn’t listen to the employees involved in the conflict. Being able to make observations and then respond appropriately is a pivotal skill in developing exceptional leadership ability.

Here’s a few thoughts on how to observe and locate a situation:

1. Leave Your Assumptions At The Door:
Bringing in your own assumptions or ideas about a situation can blind you from seeing what is actually going on in a situation. If you have a bias towards a particular person, as a leader you must be able to keep that from entering in to your observation.

2. Ask Questions:
Asking questions can clarify a situation or response you don’t understand and gives the person or persons involved a chance to tell their side of the story.

3. Listen To The Answers To Your Questions:
Do not just ask questions to seem interested, but actually listen to the answers. Take notes on a piece of paper if it helps, use good listening skills and body language to show that you are taking the person seriously.

4. Rephrase Their Answer To Ensure An Accurate Observation:
After you have heard an answer, rephrase it in your own words, even by starting with “so what I hear you saying is…” and then proceed to restate what you’ve heard. This can prevent miscommunication and lets the persons know you are concerned.

5. Take Time To Respond:
After you have observed the situation and listened to the persons involved, if you are confident in the appropriate response, then share it with openness and honesty. But if you are not sure how to respond, take time to decide the appropriate response. Taking time does not display weakness, in reality, it reveals wisdom. A wisdom that you do not get caught up in the conflict or react without contemplation. Take time to make the right decision.

These steps can help in conflict situations or leadership experiences where one is expected to make an observation and respond with a solution.

Thoughts or suggestions? Share in the comment section.

As Christmas songs and atmosphere fills the air, this season also brings about some of the greatest college football games of the year. With rivalry week over, and great finishes by Alabama, Texas, Oregon and other teams, the BCS has released their bowl schedule. Here’s a look at the schedule over the next month:

All times Eastern

2009-10 College Football Bowl Schedule

New Mexico
Fresno State vs. Wyoming Albuquerque, N.M.
Dec. 19–4:30 p.m. ESPN

St. Petersburg
UCF vs. Rutgers St. Petersburg, Fla.
Dec. 19–8 p.m. ESPN

R+L Carriers New Orleans
Southern Miss vs. Middle Tennessee New Orleans
Dec. 20–8:30 p.m. ESPN

MAACO Las Vegas
Oregon State vs. BYU Las Vegas
Dec. 22–8 p.m. ESPN

S.D. County Credit Union Poinsettia
Utah vs. Cal San Diego
Dec. 23–8 p.m. ESPN

Sheraton Hawaii
Nevada vs. SMU
Dec. 24–8 p.m. ESPN

Little Caesars
Marshall vs. Ohio
Dec. 26–1 p.m. ESPN

Meineke Car Care
Pitt vs. North Carolina
Dec. 26–4:30 p.m. ESPN

Emerald
Boston College vs. USC
Dec. 26–8 p.m. ESPN

Gaylord Hotels Music City
Kentucky vs. Clemson
Dec. 27–8:30 p.m. ESPN

AdvoCare V100 Independence
Texas A&M vs. Georgia
Dec. 28–5 p.m. ESPN2

EagleBank
Army or UCLA vs. Temple
Dec. 29–4:30 p.m. ESPN

Champs Sports
Miami vs. Wisconsin
Dec. 29–8 p.m. ESPN

Roady’s Humanitarian
Bowling Green vs. Idaho
Dec. 30–4:30 p.m. ESPN

Pacific Life Holiday
Arizona vs. Nebraska
Dec. 30–8 p.m. ESPN

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces
Houston vs. Air Force
Dec. 31–Noon ESPN

Brut Sun
Oklahoma vs. Stanford
Dec. 31–2 p.m. CBS

Texas
Navy vs. Missouri
Dec. 31–3:30 p.m. ESPN

Insight
Minnesota vs. Iowa State
Dec. 31–6 p.m. NFL Network

Chick-fil-A
Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee
Dec. 31–7:30 p.m. ESPN

Outback
Northwestern vs. Auburn
Jan. 1–11 a.m. ESPN

Capital One
Penn State vs. LSU
Jan. 1–1 p.m. ABC

Konica Minolta Gator
West Virginia vs. Florida State
Jan. 1–1 p.m. CBS

Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi
Ohio State vs. Oregon
Jan. 1–4:30 p.m. ABC

Allstate Sugar
Florida vs. Cincinnati
Jan. 1–8:30 p.m. FOX

International
South Florida vs. Northern Illinois
Jan. 2–Noon ESPN2

Papajohns.com
South Carolina vs. UConn
Jan. 2–2 p.m. ESPN

AT&T Cotton
Oklahoma State vs. Ole Miss
Jan. 2–2 p.m. FOX

AutoZone Liberty
Arkansas vs. East Carolina
Jan. 2–5:30 p.m. ESPN

Valero Alamo
Michigan State vs. Texas Tech
Jan. 2–9 p.m. ESPN

Tostitos Fiesta
Boise State vs. TCU
Jan. 4–8 p.m. FOX

FedEx Orange
Iowa vs. Georgia Tech
Jan. 5–8 p.m. FOX

GMAC
Central Michigan vs. Troy
Jan. 6–7 p.m. ESPN

Citi BCS National Championship Game
Texas vs. Alabama
Jan. 7–8 p.m. ABC

‘Tis the Season for some great Football!