Being an Executive = Clear Thinking, Rational Decision Maker, Right?

Executives are clear thinking, rational and logical decision makers, yes? They see what needs to be done, what needs to be accomplished and, as if triggered by some internal starter's gun, are off into immediate and full-out focused action to the finish line and the win they wanted.

Yea! And there are fairies at the bottom of my garden too.

Notwithstanding the mythology, executives – even highly accomplished ones, as anyone who saw Jamie Dimon  being interviewed  by Charlie Rose at Aspen will attest, have things on their to-do lists that they know they need to get on with yet they procrastinate, postpone, review, gather more data – everything but decide and get into action. None of these delaying tactics will produce results in the real world. We all know that and yet…   

So how is your, “reviewing my options” going? If I can borrow a tag line from CapitalOne, “what’s in your wallet – on your ‘to be decided (I am procrastinating really) list’?”

What ever it is, I hope the process of reviewing also comes with some reflecting. Reflecting that, in itself, is useful in giving you insights into your commitments and concerns, and insights into the areas where you are in action and producing results, and where you are hesitant and/or stuck.

Here is a little additional decision making test. Ask yourself, item by item on your list, to decide as you toss a coin – heads yes, tails no, and pay attention to your reaction; thoughts, body sensations, relief/tension..., as you see which way the coin has come down.

1. Shall I … fill in the blank? – heads yes, tails no. If the coin toss is a no, observe your reaction, relief or disappointment; you agree that’s the decision or you disagree... If you are clear your “real” decision is no just say so and move on.

If yes, get into action – stop procrastinating, get on with it. You can’t score sitting it out on the bleachers. And, please, no stories about your decision making process…

Here are some questions for you to mull on – this is you talking to you in the privacy of your own head. You know you do that, right? OK, the questions:

1. When I am “reviewing my options” what are the key things I think about to help me choose? Are there consistent factors no matter what the choice is about?
   
2. When I am making decisions what criteria do I always automatically consider?
3. When I postpone decision making, what’s the most frequent reason I use? Is there a consistent “issue(s)” I am reluctant to confront? (Example: I don’t want my decisions to upset people)
4. Do I really want (as in committed to having) the outcome a decision will give me?
1. What is the upside I see – what vision or commitment is forwarded, or what concern handled?
2. What is the downside I see – some possible risk/discomfort I want to avoid, something underneath/reason for my hesitancy?

These Q’s are just to give you an additional insight into your own thinking/values/priorities/questions/concerns.