Becoming Aware of Your Decision-Making Tendencies
What are the prefab tendencies that you use to make decisions? In other words, what are the built-in tactics that pre-determine what you decide to do? Not sure? Here are a few that you may want to sort through:
- Idealistic vs. Pragmatic: This is a huge filter that all of us use when we’re making decisions or formulating strategy. We all have traces of both. Neither is bad. Neither is better than the other. When you’re operating at the extreme ends you will often overstate things. Idealists end up dreaming of what could be. Pragmatists often settle for an extrapolation of the past.
- Pursuing Problem-Free: The pursuit of a problem-free solution has the effect of delaying ministry. Better to recognize that every solution comes with a set of problems. Choosing the set you’d rather have is the best you can do.
- Mistaking "good" for "best": This is a tough one. Often rooted in an idealistic culture, accepting "good" leads to complexity. Holding out for "best" leads to simple.
- Snap vs. Delay: There is such a thing as a decision that is made too quick and then there are decisions that should have been made. Impulsive decisions sometimes miss the chance to weigh options. Over-thinking and delay often lead to missed opportunity.
- Second Guessing vs. Willingness to Rethink: This is the classic wishy-washy vs. flexibility issue. It’s one thing to change your mind based on who’s standing in your office. It’s another thing to be willing to be proven wrong or out-of-step with the times.
Am I missing something? What do you think?
