A common trait of great leaders—whether in the military, business, politics, or any other field—is the ability to act decisively, to survey a situation, and to make a timely decision on how to move forward. And yet, decisiveness is precisely the element of leadership many people struggle with the most. It can be incredibly intimidating to make quick decisions when the stakes are so high and when all of the information is not necessarily known.
Even for the very risk-averse, remembering a few key tips and bits of wisdom can help boost decisiveness.
Inaction Has Its Own Costs
We often fear making the wrong decision at key moments, and doing so can certainly be costly; however, it’s important to keep in mind that inaction itself can have costs. Failing to act during a crisis can mean missing a chance to mitigate damage. Failing to act when an opportunity presents itself can mean missing out on a change for great success or profit.
Writing for Entrepreneur, Jeff Goins notes, “You can, of course, make a bad decision. But often, the decision isn’t between this or that; it’s between acting or not. And this is what most of us are afraid of doing—making a choice. We waste time writing up plans and setting goals that never get done. We worry about doing the wrong thing and obsess over the details.”
Few Decisions Are Irreversible or Unalterable
Even if we end up making what in hindsight appears to be the wrong decision, it is rarely the case that we are forever doomed by that decision. Certainly some decisions can be difficult to reverse—rebranding your company, for example, or purchasing another business. But these decisions are rarely made without careful and detailed analysis. Despite our anxiety, the odds of making a catastrophic, irreversible decision are often lower than we might think. Having confidence in your knowledge, experience, and aptitude is key here.
Focus on the Long-Term
In an interview for Business Insider, Melanie Perkins, cofounder and CEO of Canva, recommends taking the time to plan out a clearly defined, well-planned, long-term plan for your organization. “Spend as much time as you need figuring out your long-term vision,” Perkins says. “Because after you have a clear vision, all the smaller, day-to-day decisions are much easier. You’ll learn that each little decision you make is either moving you in the right direction or will be an important lesson you needed to learn in order to achieve your vision.”
Being decisive can certainly seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. By keeping your long-term goals in mind and recognizing the relative costs of inaction versus a wrong action, you can start to increase your level of confidence making quick decisions, even on items of crucial importance.