Make it quick. A decision, that is.
I’ve heard it said a quick decision is often your best decision and better than no decision at all. I tried it. Here is what I found.
I feel great about myself when I actually decide something rather than letting it drag on and on and on. I take responsibility. I decide.
I have always feared a decision in the past. It was too definite. I feared making a mistake by making a wrong choice. It was easier to let other people decide for me. Then I could blame them if it turned out to be a bad decision.
Now I am taking responsibility and making my own decisions. I feel more confident. Free-er.
I seek advice from trusted people when needed. Michael has been my soundboard for so very many decisions. I deeply trust his wisdom.
Setting a time limit for making a decision is everything. If I set a limit, than I don’t let the decision drag on. A couple hours, a couple days or a couple weeks for a huge decision. But taking too long is actually detrimental. Making it quick is best.
Proverbs says, “A hope deferred makes the heart sick.” I have found this to be true. Don’t drag a decision on and on. Decide. Move on. Make it snappy.
Making a list of pros and cons rather than strictly relying on emotions, helps me make a good decision. This takes out the guessing game as to which way to decide.
I then make my decision and stick to it. No changing it up 2 hours later. There is nothing worse than me doubting my own ability to make a decision. How horrible I feel about myself if I am constantly second guessing my own abilities in this area.
Making a quick, smart decision is crucial to successful living.
After all these things, if my decision proves to be wrong, I take responsibility, make amends, and learn from my mistake.
Make a decision.
Make it quick.
Question: What have you found to be the best way for you to make a decision?
I really take the time to think about the decision before making it. Great points.
Dan,
Great to connect with you here!
Yes, some decisions are definitely made to quickly! … how long do you usually give yourself to decide?
It depends on the decision. Small ones take less time then bigger ones. I try and layout the pros and cons, think about the impact of the decision, ask key people about the decision, then move on it.
Yes, yes…
All wise advice Dan. Move on it.
Thank you. Looking forward to reading more from you.
I love that you mentioned making a list of pros and cons. When my oldest son Chris had to decide which of the 4 colleges he had been accepted by to go to – that was exactly what we told him to do. I do that as well and I also rely on peace. I love Colossians 3:15 in the Amplified: And let the peace (soul
harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].
I love the picture of His peace acting as umpire – (maybe because my son Matt played baseball for so many years) – but it just helps me seek that peace and then I can step out. And Joyce Meyer once said she hesitated to make decisions in case she made a mistake and God told her – if you make a mistake, I will correct you! That gives me peace too.
Ann,
Haha My Dad used to be an umpire and I remember his animated voice saying, “Sttrriiike” and he would jab his hand out to emphasize 🙂 It does bring to mind making a quick definite decision… and that along with God’s peace is a very comforting thought.
This is also a wonderful verse that you bring up! A great reminder.
How long did your son play baseball?
Claudia,
Indecision is torture. I pray about everything and ask God to give me wisdom and direct my steps. Sometimes I get an immediate NO, but most often I have to step out in faith trusting that God will direct me as I am moving. I’ve heard this analogy a lot — you can’t steer a boat unless it’s in gear. I finally understood that once we got a boat. Obviously there are times when you definitely need to wait for an answer or the peace of God before taking a step.
Have a Victorious Day!
Marianne Clements
Victory Christian Coaching
Marianne,
I love that analogy! That is cool that it really played out in your life when you saw it firsthand with your boat 🙂 funny how something that we have heard before just clicks when we can relate to it firsthand.
ooooh indecision IS torture indeed. Well put.
Do you have a sailboat? I have always wanted to sail… sigh…
wow… small random tangent there 😉
I don’t have a system per se, but all my big decisions, I talk over with my wife. If I find I’m thinking about it way too much, I go ahead and make a decision. I like the Getting Things Done book’s description of how much energy and time we lose when we carry To-Do lists and Put Off Decisions around in our heads day after day. It’s much more freeing to get it DONE and let it go.
So true Michael,
“Get it done and let it go!”
We carry around such weighty loads so often.
I like how you talk things over with your wife. Michael and I do the same and it is wonderful to decide things together!
Is this another great book recommendation? “Getting Things Done”
Depends! It seems there is a kind of cult following to the “GTD” Getting Things Done model. A friend wholeheartedly follows it, so I got the book from the library and read about a 1/3 of it, which did have good theory on why we don’t get things done. However, the system appears to be too much work, that it gave me more work! Or maybe I should have ready more….perhaps the secret was at the end!
hmmm Michael,
Interesting.
Ya if it doesn’t help YOU get things done, that doesn’t work out very well 🙂
Seems like you have a good system working for ya!
Excellent advice. I’ve often had trouble making decisions, too. I put them off, thinking I’ll have a clearer answer later, but I usually don’t. Your formula is the one that works for me too – deciding quickly. That way, I don’t allow fear to set in.
hmmmm fear.
Yes indeed Chris. I surely relate to you here!
Ya deciding quickly helps me not to over think things.
I wonder why we always think we will have a clearer answer later? Isn’t that interesting as Jim Rohn would say 🙂
I find just making a decision works. No real system other than running through possible outcomes in my mind and then deciding. Seems to work well for me.
Just decide. Boom. Done.
I like it Joe. No frills. No wish washy. Just decide.
Quick is often good, unless it’s a big decision. Since I’m a “D/I” on some days and an “I/D” on other days (I’m using DiSC lingo here), my tendency is to always decide quickly. However, the two biggest mistakes of my adult life have occurred because I made the decions too quickly. And when I say big, they were huge mistakes.
When it comes to big decisions, “S” and “C” personalties need to learn to speed up their decision making process. The exact opposite is true for “D” and “I” personalities…they actually need to learn to slow down their big decision making process.
Bottom line – we all need to learn to play to our strengths and compensate for our weaknesses.
Marriage brings this concept of DISC styles into harmony. Most couples I know are great at complimenting the other half as they can typically be different styles. This can greatly help decision making as a couple, if you understand and respect where your mate is “coming from”.
Absolutely true, Michael!
Kathy and I are wired differently, and she has helped us “slow down” in a positive way when making the big decisions, which has been such a gift. In fact, the longer we are married, the more valuable we realize our different wiring is to our marriage.
Great insight! Thanks for sharing it.
This is why I LOVE knowing how we are each wired! I think it has been the biggest change factor in our marriage!!
That being said… Michael is C, S and I am S,C,I… need I even mention how we labor over decision making? 😉 So we compensate (as you said Kent) by setting deadlines. We took months and months to decide on Michael quitting his job and that was detrimental. We decided never to do that again and setting deadlines has been super helpful for us. It forces us to decide rather than drag it out or not decide at all.
Ahhhh….that really makes sense!
As I often say when presenting on the DiSC, success comes when we “Play to our strengths and learn to compensate for our weaknesses.”
Sounds like that’s what Michael and you are doing. Congrats!
I’m not one to sit on decisions too long… Putting the DISC into the picture, where I’m D/I, I ‘d say it has a lot to do with my personality. If I get stuck on a thought, I have the tendency to close my eyes, and decide on the first thought, without given the second thought a chance. There is something about going with the first thought that I come to, that I have a lot of intuitive trust in. I don’t know, it might be faith. But the bottom line is, if decisions start to bog my thinking, I’ll quickly block everything out, and go with my first thought… Sometimes, depending on the scenario, that first thought is to do a Pros and Cons list… And then I’ll let the one that has the most win.
Rob,
Has going with the first thought been successful for you? This is interesting to me. I often go on first thought with intuition… but haven’t tried it with decision making. I WAY over think things and too often decide based on what I think other people think or feel.
I like the first thought thing!
Thanks
In the long run, Yes, but I can tell you that things don’t always work out for me… I’ve made many errors and failed miserably before, but in the process have gained so much more… By stepping forward anyways, I am way more prepared for bigger decisions later on… Bottom line, is I try not to sit on something… If I do, my life goes by another day without my participation.
Great advice there Rob! None of want another day to pass without our participation! NOOOOOO!
Amen Claudia 🙂 Not another day!
Claudia, it seems that my friends have already mentioned my view on how your personality feeds into the decision making process. We will all look a decisions differently the ultimate thing is to make sure we are moving forward whether fast or slowly, but to move you have to make decisions to further your cause. Blessings, @missioncoach
They have indeed Rob 🙂
Yes, yes, moving forward is key!
Blessings as we both Move forward!
[…] to be made, I will make one. I understand that God did not give me the ability to always make the right decision. He did, however, give me the ability to make a decision and then make it right. – Andy […]