Making good decisions is arguably one of the most important skills we can attain and develop.
Our choices affect everything: health, family, friendships and work.
Mike Irwin, author of “Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude,” outlines the five most detrimental mindsets to good decision-making – and how to avoid them:
Fatigue. Judgement gets fuzzy when we’re tired. Prioritize big decisions during times of high energy levels (e.g., early in the day, after exercise, etc.)
Distraction. We’re bombarded by information and messages all day, from phones, to laptops, to TV. Unplug and find a quiet place to focus when you need to.
Lack of input. Too few people speak up when we need them. Give people advance notice of discussion points, solicit their input, allow them to speak, and listen.
Emotions. Emotions cloud thinking and cause unforced errors. Walk away, calm down, and return when you can think more clearly.
Paralysis. It’s easy to be overwhelmed and want to consume new/more information. Set a deadline and make the decision.
Our decisions shape our lives, and the lives of the people we live with and lead.
We’ll never eliminate all bad decisions, but knowing more about what causes them can help us minimize them.
Have a great week.
Sign up for The Sunday Snippet!
Good ideas to help you prosper delivered fresh each Sunday morning.