We can strategize all day about how to make the best decisions. But when there are too many on the plate it’s only natural to just make a decision, any decision, and move on. That may be fine for routine issues. Not so for the bigger problems and projects. What you have to do is make decisions about the decisions to be made. This requires a step back, a sense of detachment and a little courage. Allow me to explain.
In Figure It Out!, I list the “5Cs” of problem solving. The first “C” stands for clarify the problem. The most important question to ask when seeking clarity is “What does success look like?” In other words, take a step back, look at the bigger picture and envision your desired outcome. But another consideration on that list is “What’s the gravity of this problem.” Should you be making this decision? Is it worth your time? How much time will it consume? How much think time will it involve? You get the idea. Taking a step back provides some clarity about the important of this decision in the larger context. That brings us to detachment.
If you’re conscientious, as I know you are, it’s easy to feel that you need to decide everything. But, that’s being a control freak. Smart decision makers are not control freaks. They prioritize, they delegate and sometimes they just don’t do anything. They also do it with detachment. That’s the key to remaining sane when you’re feeling overwhelmed. This brings us to courage.
I know . . . You might be saying, “That’s easy for you to say. But you don’t understand. I’m essential to every decision or the world will end, my boss will fire me, and someone will stamp ‘Loser’ across my Facebook profile.” If I may be a bit profane . . . B.S. There’s no way I can convince you to act with courage. That’s something that comes from inside. But here’s the deal . . . effective decision makers succeed by having courage. How about you?
You can come up with a matrix to prioritize all your decisions. You can analyze until you can’t see straight. But when all is said and done, you still have to take a step back, think with detachment and act with courage.