Make Important Decisions QuicklyHave you ever been in a car with someone and the question comes up,
"What do you want to eat?"
"I don't know, what do you want to eat?"
"I don't know, anything is fine with me."
"McDonald’s?"
"Nah, I'm not in the mood for burgers"
And so on for about another 3 miles. Quick decision making is critical in just about every aspect of life. Every decision you make produces a result. For some, the decision making process is a quick and painless one. For others, trying to choose what to wear first thing in the morning can be a time consuming project.
Why It's So Hard to Make a DecisionIf there is amazing power behind making a decision and if the decisions you make ultimately shape your life, why is it so hard to decide? General Peter Pace offers this explanation, “Some things today--cellphones and e-mail--are not healthy for growing leaders.
Before cellphones, if the boss was away, the next person in line had to make a decision. It was either right or it was wrong, but you had to accept responsibility. You learned and grew from that. Now it's too easy to call for advice. Senior leaders have to start saying, "Look, if it's not dying or burning, don't call me."
I have to agree with the General. The responsibility of decision making should be placed on the person making the decision. If you are not a strong decision maker, the best thing you can do to become better is to start taking on the challenge of making your own decisions. That is easier said than done for some people. There are many factors that can inhibit people from becoming good decision makers.
Fear of failure-One of the reasons why the decision making process is so difficult for some people may be because the consequences of that decision may be severe and you do not what to deal with the outcome.
Fear of Accountability-Some do not want to be responsible for what may happen if a decision they make is a mistake.
Lack of Experience-Not having to make major or even minor decisions of your own early in life can make you incapable of making tough decisions as an adult.
Too Many Options-Having many good options will make your decision making process more difficult.