Most CEOs make the majority of their decisions in less than 9 minutes. And a few decisions might take an hour but rarely does the decision-making process extend for longer than that time frame.
In my experience working with clients, I notice that sometimes people struggle with decision-making. Often this struggle is based on the person concentrating on lack or worrying about losing something. For example thinking, “If I choose this, it means I’ll never get to do this other thing.” There is also this thing called, “Fear of Failure”. If you have this kind of fear, you worry that if you make the wrong decision you will fail, or be a failure. Few decisions are in a right or wrong category, though. Most decisions are between two good things. If a decision is between a bad thing and a good thing, that’s a no-brainer, you will, of course, choose the good thing.
Remember that few decisions are permanent. For example, if you choose a movie and it is a terrible movie, you can stop watching. If you buy the “wrong” car, you can sell it and buy another car. Let’s look at even more permanent decisions like naming a child. You can even change a name, go by a nickname, and sometimes the child changes his or her own name when they grow up. (I am not suggesting that you choose a child’s name in 9 minutes or less, by the way).
If you devote too much time waffling around in the decision-making process, very little actually gets done. Here are some tips to make quicker, better decisions.
First, note the importance of the decision and consider how much time you reasonably feel you need to make the decision.
Decide on a decision deadline (of course you can change this). For example tell yourself, “I am making this decision within the next few minutes. (or half-hour or by tomorrow or by next week).
Review the research or information you have.
Tune into your intuition or gut feeling about the decision. What feels like the right decision? People often report “knowing” their decision, but then spend another several minutes, hours, days, or months turning it around in their minds. Have you ever interviewed people for a job and immediately you knew which one you wanted to hire, but then you started going over and over resumes and replaying the interviews in your head, only to go back to your first choice?
I was at a restaurant once speaking to the chef. I was trying to decide between two entrees and asked for his advice. He told me he couldn’t give me advice because both dishes were so different. Then he asked which one I was drawn to first. When I told him, he said, “Then that is that right choice for you.” We laughed a bit, and it was a delicious meal.
Consider grouping some decisions automatically in the 9 minutes or under category (where you will eat dinner, what movie you will see)
Consider grouping even more decisions in the 9 minute or under category (eg email subject titles, the price of a package, a picture for a Facebook ad). I know you are going to say, “But I have to put time into this.” Yes, learn the principles of a good subject line, pricing, a good Facebook ad photo, etc. So, then, in practice, you can decide faster.
Everything always has a first version, a version 1.0. No matter how much time you put into the first version, you learn from the first version. You will always be testing and tweaking. If you delay too long at the beginning, you will accomplish less.
Take imperfect action because there is no such thing as perfect action. There will always be something you want to change. The first iPhone was very different from today’s version.
If you feel like you made a poor decision or maybe you feel like you made a good decision, but not a great decision, see what you can learn from it and let it go.
The more you practice quicker decision-making, the better you get at it. And the bonus is that you will get more done, have more inner peace, and more time available.
Sheri Kaye Hoff
Coach, Trainer, and Author, Sheri Kaye Hoff, is a Business Coach known for inspiring massive action and a catalyst for personal and business growth, joy, and profits in a way that is fun, relaxing, and fulfilling, Sheri inspires people to do the work they love and make more money. Sheri helps business owners and professionals to relax into success. She uses both spiritual and practical techniques to obliterate blocks and create dramatic change. She is a business, leadership, happiness, and inner game expert. She has overcome nearly dying, and the loss of her brother at an early age. She has made it her life mission to discover the keys to happiness and success and then share them with her clients and community. Learn More About Sheri
40 thoughts on “How to Make Better, Quicker More Confident Decisions in Your Business”
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Few decisions are permanent, this really stood out to me & made me think of how many times I probably decided on the wrong decision due to fear! Thank you for such a great informative post.
Great post! This is a really informative post. I really enjoyed the tips you provided.
I’m definitely one that struggles in making decisions. The big ones, the little ones, the ones in between. Thanks for these tips!
Good decision making is definitely a learned skill. And it’s one that is useful in all aspects of life.
Hi Ola, I agree. Often people become almost paralyzed with indecision.
This is important information to keep in mind! I’m getting better at making decisions at least.
Amber, I find that when you practice making quick decisions about some things. You get better at being confident in what your gut is probably telling you to do.
This are really nice tips for decision making on any business! That chef had a point though!
Yes- the chef was a character, he said what was on his mind.
My problem is I;m not afraid to take imperfect action. I like to make quick thought out decisions based on the information I have.
That’s awesome, but it sounds like you think it’s a problem. Are you saying you act too fast? and regret it later? I’m a fan of no regrets and learn from everything. 🙂
This is a great read! Getting into business is so scary but having the proper tools and guidance are so key. I look the “everything always has a first version.”
It used to drive me crazy when I first started my biz ten years ago. I would write an article or create a sales page or a course, and then want to change things. Now I realize no matter how much work I put in on the front end, I still change things. When I published my latest book on kindle- within 24 hours I wanted to add to the book description and I did. Part of the changes comes from feedback that you receive from people. If you don’t put anything out there, you never get feedback. Congratulations on your business.
Wow, I had no idea that most CEOs make decisions in less than 9 minutes. I know sometimes I can’t make a decision and feel paralyzed by indecision.
Hi Debra,
I think the key here is to look at the value and weight of the decision. You might take longer when trying to decide to move across the country, but choosing where to go for a weekend getaway can be put under – quicker decisions..
This is insightful! I think sometimes I fester too much on trying to make things perfect so I could really learn from this and take you advice. Following your intuition is definitely important so I will try to incorporate that more to my daily routine!
~Crissy
http://www.whimsicalfawn.com
Hi Crissy, Great, let me know how it goes when you listen more to your intuition.
I know trusting ones self is the key to helping one make quicker and better decisions. And it’s a great sign of confidence, which makes others want to follow you. Thanks for the great post.
Thank you David. I agree and the more you practice trusting, the more you trust- it becomes an expansion.
Lovely post and very helpful for me. Maybe someday I will be a CEO too of my own company 🙂
Blair, absolutely. Dream big. I feel like it’s the only way. I believe that we are equipped with power we don’t even recognize, when we put our minds to something, we do it.
The more you make the bigger decisions, the easier they do get. They were so scary at the beginning.
With Love Rochelle
I agree, Rochelle, practice does help.
This was a great article I am dawdling about outlining my book and a challenge I am doing ,thanks to you I will use the 9 minutes time line and see what happens
Hi Amrita, When I feel like I delaying something like a book line, I decide to start with what I think will be the most fun about the project.
I appreciate your comments, thank you.
These are great tips. Although I do not have a business , I can apply these to my life to help me stay on track with life changes and decisions.
Hi Nichole, Are you planning on making money with your blog, or are you doing it just for fun- which is great, too. I often find that bloggers don’t consider what they do is a business. I do look at blogging as a lucrative business model for people. What is important is that each person knows and honors their true “why”.
Good tips to decision making! thanks for sharing this
Thank you Dorothy. I appreciate your comments.
Such a complete article! It’s so important of be aware of this facts, I think the most important one is to trust your intuition, after following your guts you can apply the rest of these important phases on making decisions.
Thank you. I think intuition is most important, too. We get those intuitive hits for a reason.
This is great advice. I’m usually a pretty quick decision maker but I know so many people who aren’t.
That’s great Krystal that you have confidence in your decision making skills.
Yes good decision making skills are key to a successful business. I’m impressed. Keep the advice coming.
Thank you, Valerie. Have a great weekend.
Hi Sheri
Great article! I love your tip about making a decision in 9 minutes. I’m going to take action and apply this principle. Thank you for sharing.
Bonnie
Thanks Bonnie. I agree its tempting to spend a lot of time on decisions- some don’t need that time:)
Sheri