Are you indecisive? Do you waffle? Can you change your mind in any given situation, like a chameleon changes its colors? Or do you over think things? Analyze each situation you're in or relationship you may be about to embark on? You aren't alone.Managing people means making decisions. Before one decides on a course of action, they must weigh the consequences of the direction they may take. To over think the possible outcome leading to so-called "analysis-paralysis"; on the other hand, split-second thinking is the affectionately called "gut decision."
A decision does not have to lead to immediate action. Often times the best decision is to just have a plan. A plan is a set of decisions mapped out in time well beyond the present. The distance that this plan covers forward in time is the difference between immediate (tactics) and long-term (strategic) thinking. A good leader has the skill to develop both types with their team.
Indecision is inaction, which can appear like thought, but often that is not the case. Indecision means the inability to reach a conclusion when many people are counting on you to validate their trust in your leadership. It is ok as a leader to hide your own process of internal analysis from your team as that is what defines you as "thoughtful" versus the much worse case of being "thoughtless."
To fluctuate between different decisions in a public situation is to be avoided at all costs. Thus is the phenomenon of "waffling" with all its negative connotations (so sad for waffles because as a food I love them so). People like/desire decisions -- even if they are imperfect -- which they often are. A good leader makes more good decisions than bad ones. For the really really bad decisions she might make, sometimes she tries to fix those that are fixable. But she is ready to accept the fate of a bad decision, and still move forward. Because her people depend on her to do so. She is never indecisive. She just decides.
I now decide to get back to work.
