There Are No Bad Decisions Only Bad Follow-Through

Very few of the decisions we make are bad ones.  We generally do the best we can with the information we have available at the time.  Consider this, the whole reason we need to make a decision between two alternatives is because the right choice is not 100% clear.  If we knew perfectly the correct path to pursue, then no decision would be necessary.  The course would be obvious.  Besides, decisions are what they are.  They’re neutral.  It is the outcome that is good or bad.

Make a decision and then make it the right one.

The key to success in decision-making is follow-through.  Some decisions once they’ve been made are irreversible.  The difference between success and failure is how well the decision is implemented.  We often beat ourselves up and stress ourselves out trying to decide correctly, but the real work should begin after the decision has been made.  This is when our effort is crucial.  Sure, the path we choose may make our road to success easier or more difficult, but the decision itself seldom determines the outcome.  There are often several different ways to achieve a goal.

I have experienced this personally on a number of occasions.  As a manager and an entrepreneur, I have had to make a lot of decisions.  Sometimes things have worked out like I wanted and sometimes they did not.  I have also observed a lot of others making decisions over the years.  By analyzing these situations, I am beginning to understand that it often isn’t the decision that determines success, but how the leader handles the situation once the decision has been made that determines success or failure.

How to follow-through to increase your chance of success.

I believe that there are steps we can take once we make a difficult decision that will greatly increase the chance our desired outcome will come about.  I have witnessed this and experienced it myself.  Here are the things that I have observed that have increased the likelihood of success.

1.  Champion the cause.

It must be obvious to everyone that you believe the chosen course of action is the right one.  You must be the champion of your own cause.  If the going gets tough, you have to be willing to roll up your sleeves and pitch in to get things back on course.  If a leader fails to demonstrate a commitment to a decision, then why will anyone else?

2.  Always remain positive.

Express confidence in achieving a positive outcome.  We all feel doubt from time to time in our decisions, but you cannot let those you lead see you waver.  You have heard the saying, “never let them see you sweat”.  This is absolutely true when it comes to making sure your decisions work out the way you want.

3.  Rally the troops.

What does a successful football coach do at half-time if his team is behind?  He gives a pep talk.  He inspires his team members to try harder and to give more of themselves.  He reminds them that it is usually the team that is most committed to victory that wins.  Great leaders do the same thing when things aren’t going their way.  This can be a powerful way to turn a situation around.

4.  Seek counsel.

A good leader will seek out others that have been in similar situations to find out how they succeeded.  Going it alone can be disastrous.  Two heads are always better than one.  Even if you believe your situation is unique, it is possible that another person will have a unique view of the situation that might provide the breakthrough that you need.

5.  Tweak your decision.

As time passes, you will gain additional information and insight into the situation.  Use this to tweak your decision to improve your chance of success.  Nothing is off-limits as long as it is honest.  Do whatever it takes to get the results you want.  The ultimate solution make not look anything like your original decision.  This doesn’t matter.  It is the result that counts.

6.  Be patient and don’t stop until you succeed.

Persevere!  Keep working to find a solution until you succeed.  Giving up is the only real failure.  Depending on your situation, it might take days, weeks, or years to achieve success.  It doesn’t matter.  Stay committed and you will reap the reward.

Adopt this attitude toward decision-making to succeed.

Attitude is everything.  Tell yourself, “I have made the decision and now I have to make it the right one.”  Don’t beat yourself up or go back and start overanalyzing how you screwed up the decision.  All that is worthless.  It steals your energy and it wastes precious time.  Stay positive and use the steps above to fix things.  This is what all great leaders do to win more often.

Photo by nerovivo