Master the Art of Decision Making
Should I stay or should I go? Is this the right time to go for a promotion? Does this person deserve to be fired or better served with a PIP? Will my company get the needed ROI from this investment? Am I being too sensitive or is this issue worthy of a hard conversation with my manager? Chocolate or vanilla? Exercise or sleep in? From the minute we wake up to minute we go to sleep, we are in constant decision-making mode – from what to have for breakfast to what to watch on Netflix, we are making decisions all day long. Some are big and some are small, but all decisions have the ability to impact our lives and our careers.
Leaders are paid the big bucks to make the big decisions, but it doesn’t mean that it’s easy. At ON Point, we coach leaders everyday and help them with their decision-making process that has a ripple effect throughout their teams and their entire organizations. There is a lot to consider, a lot of pressure to get it right, and a lot of people watching. Individuals don’t have it easy either. We coach professionals to be proactive and in the driver’s seat of their own careers, and that means they are constantly evaluating opportunities, positioning themselves for promotions, navigating complex workplace dynamics, and every step requires confident decision-making.
What is easy, however, is getting overwhelmed and stuck in analysis paralysis – that’s when uncertainty sets in and every options feels like worst case scenario. Nothing happens except the expenditure of a lot of energy and many nights of restless sleep. Making decisions, big and small, are part of our daily lives that benefit from a daily practice and an efficient process. It’s a muscle that needs to be exercised in order to strengthen and to be effective. And remember, not making a decision is also a decision – just means that someone else is probably making it for you.
Follow the ON Point Action Plan and master the art of decision-making.
- Trust your gut but verify with facts
- Be aware of and manage your emotions
- Give yourself a deadline and create accountability
- Talk it through with a trusted thought partner
- Be objective and create a list of pros and cons
- Stay true to your values and brand
- Be confident enough to be wrong and resilient enough to pivot
