Decide Already! Or Maybe Not?

I was about to write a piece about making decisions. Conventional wisdom – and all the books – say it’s better to make a decision than not. Even if it is a wrong decision. Just to keep moving forward and course-correct as you go. For the moment, assume that’s what I’ve written, I’ll feel smart and you’ll feel smart to agree with me. After all, it is a strategy that, for the most part, probably works.

But something inside of me told me to stop. Is that really true? Is it always best to “make a decision” even if you don’t know which way to go at the moment?

If I’m honest, I’d say that sometimes, I need to sit in the question for a bit. It can be uncomfortable, for me and those who are affected, but that sitting time can be important. I’ve found that waiting, continuing to collect data, talking it over with various people, stakeholders as well as dispassionate third parties, can lead to clearer, better decisions.

I was once faced with a decision about exactly how to structure my teams. I had inherited a couple of different teams from different areas of the business. And within those teams, there were different kinds of skills, and levels of experience. There wasn’t a clear structure to go to, so I left them as they were. For the time being. Over time, as the needs of the business evolved and the skills of the team became apparent, a clear team structure emerged. After several months of observation, I was able to make a clear decision. I have no doubt it was uncomfortable for a few people on the team during the waiting period. But I suspect that had I “made a decision” early on, I would have had to make further changes later that would have made more people uncomfortable, more often. That would lead to lower job satisfaction and productivity.

I only knew the best structure by waiting, and learning. Sometimes you don’t know until you know.

The caution would be to not just “put off” a decision because you’re too busy or it is too difficult. That’s not the same as sitting with it, collecting data, and mulling it over. That’s just postponing. It’s a kind of a bypass. If you decide to sit with a decision for a bit, make it an active sit. Do something while sitting. Learn as much as you can.

Bottom line: sit until you’re sure (or at least more sure), but I strongly recommend not postponing. Too many people, including yourself, need you to do what it takes to move forward.

I don’t know if you feel smarter by looking a little deeper, but I feel like I was more thorough, and got to – for me – a deeper truth. There is always more…?

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