WOW Word-Of-the-Week #441: Decisive
January 17, 2013 by Susan Clarke
Decisive – the ability to make decisions quickly.
When it comes to making decisions would you say you are decisive? Do you have a tendency to not want to deal with or avoid difficult situations? Do you like solving challenges quickly?
Long time reader Joe had this to say in response to my WOW #435 on Priorities.
“My top priorities are my wife and daughters. They come before anyone and anything else. As for work priorities, when there are numerous projects that have to be completed, I always do those that have to be completed first and the soonest. Then I go in order. There have been times in the past when because of a CHANGE IN MY SCHEDULE(!) I forgot to study for a couple of tests in my freshman or sophomore year of college. On both of the exams I believed that I received grades of D. It happens.
Getting priorities straight is a lot easier said than done for a lot of people. The bottom line is that it takes a COMMITMENT and DECISIVENESS. If both of those things are in the equation, it is a lot easier to set 
priorities in our lives.
Then I found a very good article on Decisiveness on Dr. Harman’s website. He writes, “From the strength of a decision you then have the ability to act. Leadership requires that you are able to make key decisions effectively. Decisiveness then simply means being the leader of your own life. Decisiveness is both a skill you can build and an internal state you can summon when you need it.
The reason people aren’t decisive isn’t because that is an effective strategy for problem solving. Indecisive people act that way simply because they assume others will make better decisions for them. These people end up being subjected to the whims of others and have to rely on the thinking power of others to survive.
Being decisive is simply the most rational way to take on any problem. You observe the information you have available and then you decide what would be the most successful course of action. If it is possible to get more information, you decide how to get it. If you can’t get more data, you simply decide with the facts available.
This week’s focus is on being decisive. Do you want to be the leader of your own life or the follower? Who do you think knows better and is more wiser than you when it comes to making decisions? If you are unsatisfied with your any part of your life what are going to do about it?
Reader Responses
“This and your “self talk” word of the week totally speaks to me! These are the montra’s I’ve been working on with myself and your words of support reinforce these wonderfully! It’s amazing that I spent a lot of my life thinking “that others would make better decisions for me”. Better late than never I’m really realizing my potential and self worth. Thank you for the continued positive “FUN-Damentals” and words of inspiration! We need more people like you in this world to help everyone be inspired to realize their own potential.” – Amy
“First, thank you for including my comments in your WOW! I appreciate it. As for being decisive, life is too short to spend time going back and forth before finally deciding what to do. As Yoda said in Star Wars, “Either do or don’t; there is no TRY.” Those who are indecisive are usually those people who have had others in their lives make their decisions for them. They have not thought for themselves in their lives, and as a result they are lost for the rest of their lives. With every decision there is the risk of being wrong or failing. But that is part of life. Every decision we make there is a consequence. If we simply sit there and don’t decide, then we don’t move forward. Yes or no. Today is the day. Get with the program. If we don’t decide, life passes us by. Those have not made decisions in their lives wind up behind everyone else in this great big world. My wife does not like those who are indecisive. She wants people, especially whom she deals with in banking and retail, to make up their minds. It drives her nuts when people will not decide. Many times people who can’t make up their minds or put off decisions, are not confident enough in their own abilities to do something. So, just do it and learn to live with the consequences. That is life.” – “Warrior” Joe