Why the Flat Squirrel didn't make it: A lesson in Decisiveness

I don’t know if you have heard the story of the flat squirrel? I hadn’t, but heard it used as an analogy for decision making at a recent conference I was at. The flat squirrel analogy is a simple yet powerful illustration of the importance of decisiveness and taking action.?

Here's a common version of the story and its moral:

One day, a squirrel crosses the road and finds itself in the middle of a busy road. Cars are speeding by, and the squirrel becomes confused and indecisive. It hesitates, darting back and forth, unsure whether to continue crossing or to turn back. Eventually, the squirrel freezes in the middle of the road, unable to make a decision. Unfortunately, this indecision proves fatal, and the squirrel is hit by a car, ending up flat on the road.

The moral of the story: Indecisiveness can be dangerous and costly. In life, it is often better to make a decision and take action, even if it's not the perfect choice, rather than hesitating and doing nothing at all. Taking decisive action can lead to success or, at the very least, allow you to learn and adjust your course. Indecision, on the other hand, can lead to missed opportunities and negative outcomes.

The fact was that the squirrel had already made the decision to cross the road but then dithered resulting in it becoming a ‘flat squirrel’. This analogy serves as a reminder to be proactive and confident in making decisions, encouraging us to avoid the pitfalls of hesitation and overthinking.?

The world - whether it is at work or in your private life is littered with ‘flat squirrels’: people who have hesitated to make a decision or make no decision at all. You know the people who are ignoring the issue and put their ‘head in the sand’. Making a decision is important. If you haven’t made one, you don’t know which direction to go in. You don’t have a target.

There is an English saying “The early bird catches the worm”. The early bird had made the decision to get there early to win his prize. He is focused and successful. If there were no worms, he would already be there to catch one when it appeared. If he hadn’t made that decision: dithered: he would have missed the prize.

For those people who have been on one of my Break the Bias masterclasses, will know that one of the key messages is taking time to make decisions to avoid using your ‘gut’ (i.e. your unconscious bias). In this instance I am not contradicting myself by saying that you should make quick decisions all the time - because they risk using your gut reaction.?

Of course, the successful squirrel, in the moment, would have had to make the decision to run forward or back to avoid the cars - this was survival instinct which needed to be made very quickly. And the chances of him surviving were dependant on making a decision rather than wasting time by dithering.

One of the key skills leaders need to do is make decisions: often difficult or challenging ones. They create possibilities, direction and motivation.

So what decisions do you have to make?

Are you making them? Or are you dithering?

JUST MAKE THAT DECISION!

At the moment I am creating courses to offer as licensed learning platforms for organisations. I am including some AI powered elements for practice to future proof the content. The topics include:

• Presentation Skills
• Having Difficult conversations
• Women in Leadership Communication
• Assertiveness Skills
• Emerging Leadership

They will be available as “Train the trainer” opportunities, so organisations will be able to train managers to deliver this training and content to their teams.

I am very keen to beta test these courses. Would your organisation like to test one of these courses? If so do contact me [email protected] ?

If you want any more information about these courses or discuss licensing the training please email [email protected] or book a call https://link.lemonadeplan.com/widget/appointment/superstarcommunicator/15m-chat ?

Until next time,

Best wishes

Susan

Thank you very much for continuing to support the SuperStar Communicator newsletter.?

About the author:

Susan Heaton-Wright is the founder and creator of the SuperStar Communicator? methodology; international speaker, facilitator, coach, former international opera singer and podcaster.

Susan is best known for empowering emerging leaders all over the world to speak and communicate with clarity, confidence and credibility; through her speeches, by facilitating masterclasses and workshops and by coaching talented individuals. Since 2020 she has delivered virtual masterclasses and workshops to attendees from more than 130 countries world wide and has won a number of awards for her work.

She is curious for any changes in communication changes and especially in a technical world. Keeping the human element in communication is essential for the maximum impact! Susan co-hosts live streamed discussions with business leaders and is the co-host of the SuperStar Communicator Podcast.?

?Susan facilitates workshops - face to face and virtually on a range of topics:?

• Presentation Skills
• Public Speaking
• Assertiveness Skills
• Having difficult conversations
• Women in Leadership Communication
• How to Demonstrate Credibility
• How to be Positively Disruptive
• Networking Skills

These topics are also available as masterclasses.

I also coach talented people on being more impactful for career progression. Do contact me for more information on the one to one coaching services on communication skills I offer.

And as a speaker Susan delivers speeches on:

• How to demonstrate credibility
• Women in Leadership Communication
• Be a SuperStar Communicator: be seen, be heard, make an impact

Why not challenge your communication skills with our 30 Day planner. Purchase here.

When not working, Susan designs and sews her own wardrobe; surfs, swims and plays the viola in an orchestra. She fundraises for the Alzheimers Society, The Isabel Hospice and supports the St Albans PostBoxes Charity.

Why not connect with her on Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/susanheatonwright ?

If you wish to arrange a call: you can book here: https://link.lemonadeplan.com/widget/appointment/superstarcommunicator/15m-chat ?

Know someone who might be interested in this newsletter? Share it with them.