Struggling with a decision? Try this one

For the past few weeks, I have been writing on different aspects of decision making. I am passionate about it because I see life passing many people simply because they refuse to make bold decisions.

A colleague of mine at work named Gladys recommended a very good book, which I got and read. It is such a good book that I too want to recommend it. The title is, Made to Stick: Why some ideas Survive and Others Die. It is written by Chip Heath and Dan Heath.

The book gives some very good insight into decision making and ideas, some of which I will skim over today.

When faced with very good options, how do you decide which one to take? Many people have no problem deciding between a positive and a negative choice, but what happens when the options are all potentially very good?

For example, if as a young man you have to make a choice on who to marry between two dazzlingly beauties, what should ultimately influence the decision is in this case not how they look, but which one best compliments you.

At this point, you should look at issues like values and vision.

Similarly, if as a young lady you are faced with many suitors, what should influence your decision must eventually move from the tangible to the intangible.

The story goes that the former CEO of Southwest Airlines in the United States once said he could teach anyone how to run the airline in 30 seconds.

That was a very loaded statement, considering that Southwest Airlines had been the darling of consultants as a case study for many years, and justifiably so. The company has maintained a status of profitability and respect for so long. It makes profits even when others are suffering losses. 

CEO and co-founder Herb Kelleher’s 30-second prescription for running the airline was tied to the fact that the company was THE low-fare carrier.

So, once you understood that fact, making any decision would be easy, argued Kelleher.

He cited an occasion when a lady from the marketing department approached him and said that based on surveys, passengers would enjoy some light refreshments on the Houston-Las Vegas flight. Southwest Airlines traditionally serve only peanuts on their flights. The marketing lady suggested chicken Caesar salad.

A decision had to be made between serving the salad or not. Herbs reaction was simple. It derived its power from the core of the airlines existence.

He said: “Will adding that chicken Caesar salad make us THE low-fare airline from Houston to Las Vegas? If it doesn’t help us become the unchallenged low fare airline, we are not serving any damn chicken salad.”

Decisions must get their life from purpose. The WHY always sets the agenda for the WHAT. If you do not know why you are doing what you do, then any decision becomes acceptable once it sounds good. What helps to sift between good and great decisions is the why – the reason for existence.

When purpose is unknown, choices abound. The revelation of purpose streamlines the decision making process. It reveals the original intent.

When faced with a tough decision, you must begin an elimination – weeding out ideas that just aren’t the most important.

Sometimes we may not know what we want, but we know with certainty what we don’t want. We must then execute the elimination. Ask yourself, ‘Will this decision take me in the direction I was made to go? Will it make us more of what we were established to do, or will it take us away from our original intent?’

Living without a revelation of purpose is like trying to navigate a ship in the ocean without a compass. There will be a lot of motion but no progress.

Progress is not determined by how much we move but by how closer we are to where we set out to go to.

Never lose sight of intent and destination. These two pillars help to simplify the process of making a decision between very good options.

Have a lovely weekend.