Do you struggle to make decisions and make them quickly? You’re not alone. A lot of people find it difficult to make a decision and stick to it. That’s why becoming more decisive can be one of the best things you do for yourself.
It will help you achieve more, be less stressed, and save time from spinning your wheels. In this blog, I’ll teach you how to become more decisive and take control of different areas of your life.
Why is it hard for me to be decisive?
Don’t feel bad. We all want to make the best decisions, but this can be difficult in a world full of distractions and competing priorities. The truth is, making a decision isn’t always easy–it requires understanding our own goals, sorting through external influences, and taking into consideration how our decisions will affect the future and the people around us.
When faced with these types of challenges, we often put off making a decision because we don’t feel like we have enough information or we aren’t sure what the right answer is. Unfortunately, this can lead to procrastination and an inability to make any progress toward our goals. No bueno.
The good news is that there are ways to become more decisive and make better decisions faster. I’ll cover those ahead!
What makes a person decisive?
A decisive person is someone who has the ability to make decisions quickly and stick to them. This type of person is able to weigh the pros and cons of a situation, gather the necessary information, and come to an informed conclusion without getting swayed by outside influences.
Research suggests that decisiveness is rooted in psychological traits such as confidence. People who display these types of qualities typically feel more confident making decisions based on their own judgment rather than focusing on their emotional state.
Decisive people take action regardless of how they feel. That’s the key.
Tips for becoming more decisive
Becoming more decisive starts with understanding your own values, goals, and limitations. Take some time to identify what matters most to you, think about how you define success, and consider your strengths and weaknesses in decision-making.
Once you have a better sense of who you are and what is important to you, start making small decisions in order to build up your confidence. Notice what works and what doesn’t work for you–it will give you valuable insight into your decision-making process that can be used in larger contexts down the road.
Now, let’s jump into some actionable tips for becoming more decisive!
1. Make decisions quicker as a habit
Making decisions quickly can be difficult, especially if you’re used to overthinking or second-guessing yourself. Getting into the habit of making decisions faster and sticking with them helps to limit the amount of time you spend waiting before making a decision.
If you’re an indecisive person, you probably sit around pondering about what you need to get done, your options, and what will happen next. You might even experience anxiety because of this.
This study, led by Damian M. Herz and other researchers, discovered that decisions are made based on the information we receive and how we perceive that information. What can you do with this knowledge?
Set deadlines for decisions so that you don’t get sidetracked by irrelevant information (or worse–paralyzed by indecision). Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should rush through things without considering all angles, just make sure that your decision-making process doesn’t become too drawn out.
Remember, there will always be new information coming in and new developments happening that could potentially change your opinion about a particular topic. That’s why it’s important to make a decision quickly and be willing to adjust your approach as needed.
2. Get out of your comfort zone
Another great way to become more decisive is to get out of your comfort zone and try something new. Taking a risk every once in a while will help you develop your decision-making skills and also give you the confidence that you need to make better decisions faster.
For example, if you’re considering taking on a new project at work, don’t be afraid to go for it–even if it feels outside of your normal scope or responsibilities. Not only will this help stretch your boundaries, but it will also give you an opportunity to learn more about yourself and how well you can handle unexpected changes.
3. Don’t get distracted
Distractions are the bane of being decisive. They can pull us away from the task at hand, making it even harder to focus on the decisions that need to be made. In fact, the average American worker is only putting in about 3 hours of work per 8-hour work day. Let that sink in.
To avoid this, try to create a distraction-free environment whenever you’re working on something important. Turn off notifications and other sources of noise, and make sure you have enough time allocated in your schedule to deliberate on the decision without any interruption. This will boost your productivity as a side benefit.
Also, be mindful of how much information you’re consuming. Too much data can cause analysis paralysis and lead to confusion and indecision, so it’s important to limit what you take in and stay focused on just the facts that are relevant to the situation.
By creating an environment where distractions are minimal and sticking with only what is necessary, making decisions becomes much easier.
4. Choose fewer options
Ever heard of the choice paradox? It’s the idea that when we have too many options, it can be harder to make a decision. This is because each additional choice adds complexity and increases our chances of making the wrong one.
The solution? Limit the number of choices you have to consider by narrowing down your options beforehand. For example, if you’re deciding on your next side hustle, limit the ideas you have so you don’t overthink them. This will help you avoid being overwhelmed and make it easier to come to a decision quickly.
5. Seek outside advice
Don’t be afraid to seek advice from others when making decisions whether it’s from trusted friends or colleagues or even experts in the field. Hearing different perspectives and ideas can help you make an informed decision that you can feel good about. That’s also why 80% of professionals find networking essential to their career success.
That’s one of the reasons I love being a part of different masterminds. I can share ideas and pursuits of mine and get outside opinions. Often people will see something that I don’t or give me advice that results in a big paradigm shift.
Tap your network or look into events in your area. A quick Google search can give you plenty of conferences and meetups in your local area to attend.
6. Don’t be a perfectionist
You should strive to do better. Sure. But trying to do everything perfectly leads to procrastination and missing deadlines. It’s kind of ironic.
No decision is going to be perfect, and the key is to accept that you won’t get it right every time. You can always adjust your approach as needed or even make changes if necessary–but in the end, having the courage to make decisions quickly is what will help you become more decisive.
Making decisions is an essential part of life, and by following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a better decision-maker. With practice and dedication, you’ll be making more informed choices faster and improving all areas of your life in no time!
Something I live by is: done is better than perfect.
7. Visualize your goals and success
Visualizing your goals and success is a great way to become more decisive. It helps you focus on the big picture and make decisions that align with your long-term objectives. I love visualziing in the mornings and evenings. It feels great and helps me stay on track for what I’m trying to achieve.
Take some time every day to imagine what you want to achieve. See yourself accomplishing it with clarity and precision, as if it’s already happened. This will help you stay on track and make better decisions faster–because when we can clearly visualize our goals, we’re more motivated to take action and make things happen!
Final thoughts on how to become decisive
Being decisive can help you get things done faster and more efficiently, while also allowing you to take ownership of the decisions that you make. If you struggle with sticking to decisions you make (or even making the decision in the first place), there are steps you can take to fix that.
The key is to understand your purpose, set deadlines, and focus on making quick (but informed) decisions without getting caught up in details or second-guessing yourself. You should also tap your network to get outside perspective.
With these tips in mind, becoming more decisive will become easier with time and practice!
