Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Leadership Tip #5: Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Have you ever been in a situation where you are doing one thing but you know you should be doing something else? Say you are playing your favorite video game and the thought hits you…I have homework and a test to study for. You know what you should do—but you make a decision to keep playing because you want to beat the game. So you tell yourself, “only 10 minutes more.” 10—minutes turns into two hours and before you know it, you’re back at school unprepared for the test and without your homework for your next class. You squeak by with a D on the test and tell yourself, “I’m glad it wasn’t an F. At least I passed.” As for the homework, “Well, I’ll just have to make sure I don’t miss any more assignments.” We all know how that goes!!

Decisions, decisions, decisions. How many decisions will you make today? Try counting them and you will soon discover you are constantly making decisions; hundreds if not thousands each day and many are unconscious, meaning we don’t think about them, we just make them without thinking. For example: should I get up now, what do I wear today, what will I eat, brush my teeth, shower or wash my face, comb my hair and that’s only the beginning. So how do you become a good decision-maker? Here are some useful tips:

Tip: Make a decision to develop a daily routine.

This decision helps you get each day off to a good start. If you prepare the night before you will end your day as a winner and be ready for a good start in the morning. Successful people call it “Setting Up Your Game to Win!”

Tip: Put yourself in situations where you have to make decisions.

Make a decision to become involved with clubs or organizations in your school, church, or community. You will learn both decision-making and leadership skills. Note: When you first join a club or organization it is normal to feel uncomfortable. Step out of your comfort zone. The more you step out—the bigger your world becomes. The bigger your world—the more opportunities you have. The more opportunities you have—the more options and choices you have. Years from now you will look back and say, “That was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!”

Tip: Ask a trusted adult or role model for advice.

The adults in your life have wisdom and knowledge. Take their insight and use it to help you make the best decision. They will be glad you asked and they will help you consider things you never thought about. Who are the adults in your life that can help you look at your options in different situations?

Tip: people who have become great decision-makers have made many more poor decisions that the average person.

Practice makes improvement! I once asked a close friend, Willie, how he got so good at making decisions? He said, “I’ve practiced and practiced and practiced. I’ve made a lot of bad decisions, but I never made a decision I haven’t learned from. The more decisions you make, the better you get. The earlier in life you start the easier decision-making becomes.” I then asked, “Willie, did you mean the easier decision-making became or the easier life became?” His response, “Both!”

Tip: decide who you will be as a person.

Who you are is your character and it is based on our morals and beliefs. The guiding force in our early years comes from family and the environments around us. We make decisions early in life based on the feedback from our experiences, feeling good, feeling bad or praise for right and consequences for wrong choices. As we mature, we learn to gather facts and knowledge and include that information in our decision-making. There are times when you will find the best decision may not always be the most popular one or one you like, but it may very well be the best choice. If in question about a decision, “Listen with your heart. The heart will always serve you right.

Decision-making is a skill; it’s like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it becomes. The more you practice the better you become. Your self-esteem and self-confidence increases, you develop pride in yourself and gain more respect & trust from your peers and adults. You begin to make bigger decisions that take you faster and further in life. If you have participated in Ultimate Leadership Training you know what separates a leader from others is that a leader learns how to make good decisions. You also know that leaders are trained, not born, so I recommend we train daily.

Action Step: Start consciously making decisions and pay attention to the results. If you do not like the result…make a different decision next them.

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