7th Feb 2024
When was the last time you struggled with a choice? Maybe it was this morning, when you decided to hit the snooze button—again. Perhaps it was at a restaurant, with a miles-long menu and the server standing over you. Or maybe it was when you left your closet in a shambles after trying on seven different outfits before a big presentation.
Often, making a decision—even a seemingly simple one—can be difficult and people will go to great lengths to avoid having to make a choice and end up
limiting their closet choices to black turtlenecks, à la Steve Jobs.
If you’ve ever wrestled with a decision at work, you’re definitely not alone. According to McKinsey research, executives spend a significant portion of their time—nearly 40 percent, on average—making decisions. Worse, they believe most of that time is poorly used. People struggle with decisions so much so that we actually get exhausted from having to decide too much, a phenomenon called decision fatigue.
Most decisions Are Made on Probability. No one has a crystal ball to tell them with 100% certainty they’ve made the right decision.
It’s about taking inventory of the information available and making the best choice possible.
Leaders are decision makers and at most times they step into their decisions without total certainty that it’s going to work out.
This is what sets them apart from everyone else. They’re willing to take action when everyone else is paralyzed by uncertainty.
General Norman Schwarzkopf once spoke about mentors who have shaped beliefs about life and decision-making.
He spoke of one of the generals he had worked for before he was the “Stormin’ Norman” he’s fondly known as today.
General Schwarzkopf recalled a situation in which the general was asked to make a decision that had been stagnant for almost 10 years. The general looked at them and he said, “The answer is obvious, gentlemen.”
And then he gave them the answer. He said, “That’s our decision. Move on it.”
After they left, Schwarzkopf approached the general and said, “Permission to speak freely?”
The seasoned general replied, “Certainly.”
Schwarzkopf said, “General, I know you don’t have a clue what those guys were even talking about.”
The general smiled at him, and he said, “You’re right. I didn’t understand all of it.” And he said, “But you know what? This has been a decision that no one’s been willing to make for 10 years.”
He went on to state:
“For 10 years they’ve talked about it, going back and forth. The best minds have been on it, and they can’t decide one way or the other, so you know what?
We need to pick one and do it. So, I just did, because I believe that now all the best people are going to go to work on it, and they’ll either make it work or they won’t.
They’ll see it’s not working, and we’ll change directions, and we’ll do what’s right, but what’s happened right now is a logjam of nothingness.
Decisions are power, and I’m here to make them. That’s what I’m in this position for. That’s what I’m a leader for.”
The general did what no one else could do: he acted.
Often tough decisions are less about making the “right” choice and more about making the choice.
Despite what you might think, you can always pivot.
If you wait to have all the information, so will everyone else.
If you make a decision that turns out to be wrong or not the best choice you can change things.
The important part is making a decision to start with.
Finally, whenever in doubt, toss a coin. It could fall heads or tails – The outcome is not important! In that brief moment while the coin turns Infront of your eyes you realize what outcome you are wishing for. Life really can be this simple!
Decide, choose your option & stay blessed forever.