Every Decision Is Just A Step

May 14 / Michael Henderson
I can struggle to make a decision. So many things can hold me back. I get bogged down with weighing up options and doing research and asking others what they think. I am a master at “kicking the can down the road.” Sometimes, I can become so overwhelmed that I start to think, “the rest of my life depends on this one decision.” All of this leaves me thinking, “how does anyone do this?”

What helps me to make a decision is to remind myself of five basics of decision-making:
  • Thinking is not deciding. Action defines a decision.
  • Commitment is key - there are always options.
  • The outcome is never certain.
  • Decisions are part of a journey.
  • I need to pay honest attention to the result of every decision.

Let me explain.

I love thinking - it is my go-to. It can be helpful. But… I have learnt that thinking about action is not the same as taking action. The truth is even more blunt - I can never know or consider all possibilities before making a decision. At some point I just need to make a decision and see where it leads.

Most decisions aren’t between good and bad but between good and gooder. The stakes are rarely as high as we imagine. The challenge is rarely, “you must make the right decision or everything will be lost!” It is usually, “you need to make a decision and see where it leads.” And if I don’t like it, I just back up, change my mind and change course.

I am comfortable with changing my mind, because I know that the outcome is never certain. At best, an outcome might have a high probability. Each decision will require more decisions as the path becomes clearer. It is never a high pressure, one decision and done situation. It is a dynamic journey, with many decisions to be made, and it is less about a perfect decision and more about movement.

But the most valuable skill I know is to pay attention to the result of my decisions. This is especially true if I can listen to the good people around me and start to include them in the process. If I can remain objective and aware as I make decisions, I’ve learnt that good decisions compound over time.

Put all this together, and I have gotten to the point where I am content to make quick decisions and commit to the action. My poorest outcomes have not been from “wrong” decisions, but from halfhearted commitment. Even poor decisions can be refined and improved through dedicated attention and a willingness to adapt.

But the worst outcomes happen when I make no decision at all. I have a 100% track record of worst outcomes when I make no decision at all. Think about that! 100%. Oh wait. Don’t think about it - make a decision!

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