“Indecision is debilitating; it feeds upon itself; it is, one might almost say, habit-forming. Not only that, but it is contagious; it transmits itself to others.”
– H. A. Hopf, German mathematician (1894-1971) Reprised from the DD, circa September 2007
Debilitating, habit-forming and contagious? Hey, doesn’t that sound icky!
Now, lest some of you conservative-decision-making-types think I am sounding off in favor of rash and impetuous action, as Lee Corso might say on ESPN’s College Gameday, “Not so fast, my friend!”
What I am suggesting is, that as we seek to make a difference, our instincts might be our most under-utilized asset. After all, they’re paid for, they’re refined, as as Gladwell has taught us, they’re usually right. What decision has to be made, but just keeps getting put off? Convene a team you trust and respect. Challenge every angle. Let your instincts come in to play, all the while seeking to determine where those instincts contradict any of the options under consideration.
But ultimately, if we’re leaders — if we’re difference makers, it is incumbent on us to decide. Maybe based on data, maybe based on instinct, but we must decide. Not in pursuit of popularity, but in pursuit of the best decision based on what we know, right now.
There’s another cool thing about decisions, too. Virtually none of them are final. Most are not irrevocable. When we have new data, new influences, new market conditions, new financials; well, then we decide again, and we keep. Moving. Forward.
But, first; we must decide.
John Leaf says
Steve –
As my Twitter profile states: “Not to decide is to decide.” There is no such thing as a non-decision. Thanks for the post. Hope you are well. Nice article in the WSJ today about airport food – they mentioned The Salt Lick bbq at the airport in Austin – ever been?
Jennifer Schaller says
Personally. I prefer the wisdom of our friend from the North, Geddy Lee: “If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice”