Did you know that your ability to make decisions may determine your success in life?

“The man of decision cannot be stopped! The man of indecision cannot be started! Take your own choice.” – Napoleon Hill

The number one reason for not accomplishing success in life is indecision and procrastination. Which is exactly why the ability to make decisions is a critical attribute of most successful business people.

But, how do successful leaders avoid common decision traps of “analysis paralysis,” or fear of making the WRONG decision which can result in NO decision at all?

Personal success author and guru, Napoleon Hill, had a lot to say about decision-making, and considered it one of the primary keys to success.  Through his research of the most successful people of his day, Hill determined decision-making as a critical attribute of successful people.

Have you ever suffered from “analysis paralysis?” Join the club… Most people have over analyzed their choices at some point or another in their lives.  Fear of making the WRONG decision can stop us dead in our tracks.  But the fact of the matter is simply this: we can only make decisions based on the information we have at a given moment in time, and we must do our best with that data to make an informed choice.

Moving forward is CRITICAL.

Do not let the “what if’s” of tomorrow keep you from making decisions today.  You simply MUST be able to make decisions to move forward in business and in life.

It is clear…decision-making skills are critical to one’s success in life.  Interestingly, through Hill’s research and analysis, he identified the fact that hundreds of self-made millionaires shared the following two critical decision-making traits:

  • 1. They were in the habit of reaching decisions promptly.
  • 2. They changed decisions slowly, if and when the decision were changed at all.

Successful or Not?

In fact, after interviewing 25,000 people rated as “failures,” Napoleon Hill determined ‘lack of decision making’ topped the list of reasons for their failure. We would be wise to learn from these findings.

  • Think of it this way – Indecision is a decision in itself.  People unwilling to make decisions are what Hill called “drifters,” unlikely to achieve any significant success in life.
  • Do not be easily influenced by others’ opinions, or you will be constantly changing course – because, after all… Everyone has an opinion.  If you are going to be swayed and influenced by others’ opinions when you reach decisions, success will elude you.  You must remain focused or you will accomplish little.

Decision Making Success Strategies

Using Hill’s findings as a backdrop, consider adopting the following strategies to improve your own decision-making abilities:

1. Stop hedging.

Failure to make decisions, or taking a prolonged time to make decisions, will undermine success. Make an informed decision based on the information you have at a given point in time, and then stick with it.

2. Do not change your decisions frequently or quickly.

Changing one’s mind quickly or often usually leads to failure.

3. Remember that there is no PERFECT decision.

Stop waiting for things to become crystal clear such that you are able to make a perfect decision, because there is NO SUCH THING.  To become efficient at decision making, you must take a leap of faith with the information you have. You may not have all the answers, but doing something is usually better than doing nothing at all.

4. When working through a complex decision requiring the analysis of multiple variables, consider using a weighted decision matrix.

Google this term for examples if needed. This helpful decision-making tool is multi-dimensional, allowing the consideration of multiple variables at once.  As a result, subjective opinions can be made more objective using weighted criteria, making complicated decisions considerably easier.

Mastering the nuances of good decision-making requires practice. Making a conscious habit of using the strategies outlined here can lead to great rewards!

About the author

Jae-ann Rock is Director of Marketing for Mentor Tech Group. She has more than 20 years of professional sales and marketing experience, working with companies in a variety of industries, from technology and management consulting, to training organizations and non-profits.

Mentor Tech Group is a highly specialized marketing services company, offering “market intelligence” and list services. To learn more about Mentor Tech Group, visit www.mentortechgroup.com.