(2 minute read)
“Many a false step is made by standing still.”
Essential to most elements of our lives – both personal and professional – is the need to make decisions.
While most of us can make effective decisions, simply by following a process, decisiveness is more of a trait or behaviour.
decisiveness: (noun) the ability to make clear, well-informed, and timely decisions.
This last criterion, timeliness, is what separates a person with a high level of decisiveness from someone who merely makes good decisions.
Developing decisiveness involves becoming more confident and proactive in making choices, both big and small. It’s a skill that can be cultivated through conscious effort and practice, focusing on strategies like prioritising, evaluating options, and acting confidently.
How to develop decisiveness:
1. Understand Your Current Level of Decisiveness:
Consider why you might be indecisive. Are you perfectionistic, afraid of failure, or struggling to prioritise?
Identify areas where you’re comfortable making decisions and those where you hesitate.
2. Practice Making Smaller Decisions:
Begin by making quicker decisions about less significant matters, like what to eat for lunch or which route to take to work/the office.
As you become more comfortable making smaller decisions, gradually increase the complexity of the choices you face.
3. Adopt a Decision-Making Process:
E.g.,Prioritise – Gather Information – Weigh Options – Set Timelines – Act/Implement
4. Seek Feedback and Evaluate Results:
Ask for opinions from trusted sources – but make your own decision.
Reflect on the results of your decisions, both positive and negative, to learn from your experiences.
5. Build Confidence and Reduce Stress:
Address any fears or anxieties hindering your decision-making.
Accept that mistakes may eventuate and learn from them.
Develop healthy coping mechanisms to reduce anxiety.
6. Develop a Growth Mindset:
View challenges as opportunities to learn and grow.
Recognise that circumstances can change, and to adjust your decisions accordingly.
7. Practice and Persistence:
Regular practice is key to developing decisiveness.
Learn from any mistakes.
By incorporating these strategies into your daily routines, you can cultivate the ability to make confident and informed decisions, enhancing your overall decisiveness and effectiveness.
“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”
(Theodore Roosevelt)