The Art of Deciding: Before we are doers we are deciders.

In my work, people often show up confused about what is next. Recent coaching conversations included these questions:

• What is the next best decision for me?

• Should I take this new job?

• Should I stay in this job?

• Should I go back to school?

• What school should I go to?

  
  

And then, the data gathering emerges. "I did all this research; I called all of these people, I looked at all of this information. How do I know if I am making the right decision?"

They are spinning in a world of uncertainty and prediction, wanting to control the situation, wanting certainty that the decision they make is "right."

My work is focused on helping people make decisions and take the next step. People want to know the next step with absolute certainty and get stuck when that is not obvious.

There is no way of ever knowing it is right. We can consider all of the consequences, ask if it is aligned with our core values, if it considers others, and if it is sustainable - considering long-term and short-term impacts. But in the end, we are only guessing that it is right.

What is more powerful than the information we use to rank our choices is our commitment to the choice once it is made. Once it is made, it is what we do after that has the greatest impact. Our tenacity to bring our best selves to the table once a decision is made is essential. How are we supporting ourselves in making this decision?

The key to decision-making lies not in finding the "right" decision but in making our decision right through commitment and action. It's about using information and intuition to choose a path and fully dedicating ourselves to its success. While I encourage people to be tenacious in pursuing their chosen direction, I also remind them that true wisdom includes permitting ourselves to adjust course if, after genuine effort, something feels fundamentally misaligned.

Ultimately, our success isn't determined by making the "right" choice but by how we show up after we choose. That's where the real power of decision-making lies.