How to make decisions quickly using these easy steps.

How to make decisions quickly using these easy steps.

Do you make decisions easily?

Have you wondered how some folk seem to make decisions quickly while just ordering your morning brew seems like a colossal event? I’ll have a chai? No, flat white. No, definitely chai. Oh no, did I make the right decision?

We’ll call this analysis paralysis.

It’s the continual checking and review of whether a decision is right.

I’m here to tell you that there is no right or wrong. Or a good or bad decision. A decision is just a decision. It can always be changed. And what you are truly doing is making thoughtful guesses to get some movement.

Often clients can get stuck on what is the ‘right’ decision to make. And leads to a paralysis by analysing what to do. And it is the space between the decision and what to do next where great things can happen. In this space a CEO leads a company, a mother meets her child’s needs or a girl orders a flat white without paralysis!

In this space we need to know that a decision is just a decision. And that we can always make another decision. In this space we are bold enough to accept that decision even if it’s a short term acceptance. Through acceptance whilst equally sitting with uncertainty we move from paralysis to an actionable step.  

Once we have an action we feel a sense of momentum.

So try these steps out for yourself:

1. Take a thoughtful guess.

2. Accept it.

3. Take the action.

When we don’t have momentum, you feel stuck. You hear clients talk of feeling like they are in a rut. They say things like ‘yeah I know what to do I’m just not doing it’.

It’s a conversation that goes around and around with all the whys a decision shouldn’t be made, and it feels frustrating for everyone.

But by starting with small decisions now, knowing that they can be changed later, prevents that no decision is made at all. It also moves away from whether the decision is right or wrong, good or bad. You promote the idea that you just keep making decisions, one curious, thoughtful guess at a time.

One of the strategies I also use for myself is the 5 second rule to make a quick decision rather than going around and around. I count down from 5 and then make and accept the decision and lock it in! Saying to myself 5-4-3-2-1 aaaaand done, flat white it is!

But what about when we have big decisions to make? Like whether to open up your own private practice? Or signing up to a course which is expensive.

Here are some steps I live by:

1. Hold a vision for what you want.

It’s important to hold some kind of vision on what you want or how you want to feel to help guide you as to whether that decision’s outcome will get you that thing you desire most.

For example, when I was making the decision to open up a private practice, I knew that I wanted to have some flexibility over my workload and work hours. But I wasn’t quite sure what that meant. Through thoughtful guesses and the steps below I was able to figure it out.

2. Research wisely.

When I was looking at ways to open a business, I began by asking people about their business. I started listening to podcasts and googling away.

What I didn’t realise is how much time I also wasted doing this.

I think asking people is ok, but you really need to pick your audience.

For example, asking friends who have been in public service their entire lives will have a very different take on business compared to someone who has run a business in tough times.

So contain your research to specific questions or people. For example, if you want to know about whether you have the experience to open a private practice ask a person like your supervisor about your specific skills. Often asking the wrong person, can lead to anxiety as their responses will come from a place of care for you but may tell you the things to fear without giving you the know-how. Can you feel the paralysis set it!

Also, create some structure and containment to your curiosity by only doing necessary research. Ask yourself what do I need to know before I invest my time and energy and then do specific research on that, especially if you are researching online. Otherwise that research will steal your energy and time and you are not getting into good decision making habits.

3. Know yourself and back yourself.

Society tells us there are ‘good decisions’ and ‘bad decisions’. However, decisions are just a means to move forward, through action we obtain clarity. We don’t get this kind of clarity in the constant analysis, it’s through thoughtful guesses and movement because your vision starts to feel more crystallised when you have momentum.

When you go through this process there will be obvious signs in your body that will help you in making a decision. Dropping into your body by checking whether the decision expands your body or contracts it can help guide you. Your intuition is an important guide and your body does not lie. Only you can truly know if it’s right for you, when you are making a bold decision there will be some uncertainty but your body will also hold a knowing that you want to do it anyway.

At this point your analytical mind may take over by telling you why you shouldn’t take a brave step. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard a voice say ‘who do you think you are to run your own business, what do you even know about business!’.

At this point you will need discipline to own a decision. Being clear that this is a thoughtful guess to step you closer to the overall vision for your life.

4. Define goals, create actionable steps and have timeframes in mind.

So with some of this background noise, it’s now time to start to get some definition to your steps. To do this start with identifying goals, then the steps to take and then some kind of timeframe in mind to keep you on track.

You may be an excel whiz and have something wonderfully concrete typed up. Or you may be more like me with post its and scribbles in my diary each day.

This is how it could look like:

Vision: Open a private practice

Goal: learn more about clinical rooms and how to find one.

Steps: Find out costs, location etc so that I can determine a budget and savings plan. Look on Pinterest for some room inspiration. Check on Gumtree, FB marketplace for any availability etc. Ask Ken how he found his room/ask him if he’s free for coffee and a chat.

Timeframe: This week.

5. Start.

And then you just have to get going! It will always feel uncomfortable. Whenever you make bold moves, there is uncertainty. That’s how we know there is growth coming. You don’t live a life you love by doing what other people want you to do. You don’t love your life by following other people’s expectations. You’ll just disappoint yourself. Breaking free of patterns and the way that it has always been can feel uncomfortable and yuk. But do it anyway.  

So? What brave, uncomfortable decisions will you make today?

What decisions would you make if you knew that you always hold the answers to what is best for you?

What decisions would you make if you knew you could just choose again?

Can’t wait to see you shining brightly out there my friend. I believe in your thoughtful guesses.