We make decisions daily, some small and some life changing. However when it comes to business matters it sometimes seems people become hesitant or overly cautious in making Decisions.
Be willing to make decisions. That’s the most important quality in a good leader. Don’t fall victim to what I call the ‘ready-aim-aim-aim-aim syndrome’ You must be willing to fire.” T. Boone Pickens
Leaders develop the ability to be decisive; they learn how to make timely decisions through experience. They have learned that Not making a decision can lead to missed opportunities. The key to decision making is once you have made a decision, confidently keep moving and don’t second-guess your decision. Take action, follow through and keep moving.
People often hold themselves back because they are afraid of making a mistake. We procrastinate because we fear the consequences of the wrong decision. The reality is sometimes we do make mistakes but to err is only human.
I feel I am a fairly decisive person but what I have come to realize about myself is it is easier for me to make a business decision than it is to make a personal one. For example, I have been house hunting for over a year and still have not bought a house. I have found some I liked but rather than decide I have gone back and forth asking myself all sorts of ridiculous things that really did not matter in the final decision. I also have gotten caught up in asking everyone’s opinion as to whether I should or should not buy a particular house. So here I am over a year later and I still have not acted on my dream.
How many of you know in your heart what you want but for some reason are not getting any closer to the outcome you want because you have not made a decision?
- Being decisive means to choose a direction and then to take action on it.
- Sometimes we have to give ourselves permission to make that decision and
- Sometimes it is just a matter of letting go of what is comfortable and familiar.
I decided to compare why I am so much more decisive in business than on personal matters and I came up with the reason; I follow a process when it is for business. It all came down to a process.
Let me share the 6 Step Process in making a decision that I use.
- Use the Benjamin Franklin Method for Decision Making … Ben Franklin suggested that you take a sheet of paper and it divide down the center to create 2 columns. Heading one column PRO and one column CON.
AFTER taking time to think it over, write in the PRO column all the benefits of deciding on the outcome you want for that particular choice. On the CON side write all the elements that are not of benefit to you if you make that choice. After you have listed about 10 things in each column. Look at both the PRO column and the CON Column and you will be in a better position to determine if that decision will be of benefit for you to do.
- Create a deadline for the decision to be made …
A deadline in many cases forces us to better focus on the decision. By having a deadline there is little time to procrastinate; we have to make a choice.
- Take a risk …let go of the fear of failure or the need for approval.
- Practice … make decisions daily on small and easy things. Example; “Do I print the newsletter on white or colored paper?” “Do I check my emails first or make phone calls?” For some of us just deciding what to have for dinner is a big decision.
- Focus … narrow down the decision to a few choices. Limit your options. Too many options can cause procrastination.
- Be confidant …You will find most of your decisions will be right leading you to the best outcome. We make decisions based on our experience and our intuition.
If after you have made the decision and it does not feel right; adjust it. Most of our decisions are not fatal there is usually a way to redirect. The most important thing is to just make a decision!
Good decisions come from experience, and experience comes from bad decisions. ~ Unknown
A while ago while driving to an appointment I got totally lost. My directions were not clear and the navigational system did not recognize the address so I was pretty much on my own to decide which way to go. Do I turn right or left or continue driving straight on the main road? Talk about decisions…. I had to take a chance and decide on a direction. I must tell you the first number of decisions was wrong and more than once I had to turn around; at times even back track until at last I located the right route.
That experience was a bit like our life experiences… we know where we want to go (our outcomes) but sometimes we are not clear on how to get there. Decisions have to be made and then followed up with action…sometimes we find the best route on the first attempt but other times we may feel like we are driving in circles. It is IMPORTANT to just keep Redirecting …Adjusting your decisions and eventually you will reach your desired outcome.
Pursue One Great Decisive Aim with Force and Determination – Car von Clausewitz
The Process of Making Decisions and acting on them leads to confidence and strength as a leader. It gives us a feeling of freedom and power.
