(2 minute read)
“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The next best thing is the wrong thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing!”
(Theodore Roosevelt)
It’s a Friday afternoon, and you’re planning a get-together with a fun bunch of work colleagues, who have all freed themselves up for a night out together over a nice meal and a few drinks. The pre-outing banter is at a high on your WhatsApp group chat, and everyone is super-excited. The key question that keeps circulating in the group chat is, “So, where should we go?”
There’s no shortage of situations, in our social and business lives, where the level of enthusiasm isn’t quite matched by the ability to make decisions and commit to a particular option.
Decision-making is a crucial component of leadership. Leaders need to identify and obtain critical information, assess the information and the possible consequences of taking various courses of action, before deciding and acting on the preferred option.
Decision-making is a skill which can be learned and developed. It can be taught and practised.
What many individuals – especially leaders – need to develop is ‘decisiveness’.
Decisiveness is an attribute. It requires the ability to move through the decision-making process quickly, efficiently, and often independently.
The reason such high value is placed upon decisiveness is due to the impact of indecisiveness. Individuals and teams all look for a level of certainty and conviction from those who lead them. In the absence of these attributes, individuals and teams will be adversely impacted, second-guessing the leadership – and themselves – and withholding their best efforts in fear they may be taking the wrong path.
It’s important when leading others (or just yourself) to realise that effective decisions are final decisions. (The Latin roots of the word literally mean “to cut off’ – to eliminate other possibilities). This said, ‘final’ does not imply ‘permanent’. If/when circumstances change, there will need to be a re-evaluation of the original decision to see if it remains valid.
In developing personal credibility, decisiveness plays a key role. A prompt and well-considered decision, supported by logic and a willingness to take responsibility for the outcome, inspires confidence in those around us.
“People respond well to those that are sure of what they want. What people hate most is indecision.”
(Anna Wintour)