Modern-day Decision Making

Why do so many of us struggle to make a decision? How can we learn to be more confident in our decision-making?

There are many ways that people recommend for becoming a stronger, more confident decision-maker, but while they may help us to make a very clear black-and-white decision, few approaches offer guidance in dealing with a world that seems to grow more complex every day, where there is no longer a single “right” answer to many questions. So, to be a successful leader and decision-maker in today’s world, it may be best to focus on how to live in the space between the right answers, to accept the both/and instead of just the either/or.

Recently, these principles came to mind when I saw in the news that an old feud between two rock legends had been rekindled in the media. Neither one needs any introduction, but in case you’ve been living in a cave for the last sixty years, Paul McCartney of the Beatles and Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones will occasionally take very public jabs at one another over which was (or is) the better band.

In a recent interview, Mr. McCartney brought this back up by referring to the Rolling Stones as merely a “blues cover band.” While this oversimplification of the work of one of the most prolific bands of the modern era may have been meant to be another shot fired in a verbal battle that has spanned decades, there may be some truth found in it (and some of the potential venom may be removed from the insult) if one looks at it from a more objective both/and perspective.

Yes, the Rolling Stones are undoubtedly one of the greatest (if not the greatest) rock bands of all time, but if a musicologist was to break down most of their greatest hits, it becomes clear that most of the music they created (especially early on) was born out of a heavy influence of American delta blues. As with many British invasion bands of that time, the members of the Rolling Stones probably heard this music, fell in love with in, and devoted their lives to replicating in (with their own style and talent equally present as well).

So, are the Rolling Stones just a blues cover band? Yes. Do they also deserve a place in history (maybe along with the Beatles) as one of the greatest bands to grace a stage? Yes. They are both/and!

So how can we apply this to leadership and decision-making?

Any business leader or entrepreneur will tell you that they are faced with complex issues every day that don’t have one clearly right answer. How do you keep you eye on the ball as a leader and learn how to survive (and thrive) in these moments of grey? It starts with staying true to the fundamentals that brought you to where you are in the first place. What are your values? What are your goals?

If you haven’t documented these, take some time to step away from the daily grind and write these down. Print them on a poster or laminate them so they’re not easy to change. These are the fundamentals that you’ll stick to when complexity becomes overwhelming. With these as your foundation at all times, you can chart a path forward through questions that are black and white, and those that are more grey.

And how do you lead people through these complex times? This is where these skills become most important.

Part of successfully leading a team lies in the courage to be vulnerable and admit that you don’t have all the answers, navigating through complex issues with honesty and transparency. People are more willing to follow someone who they see as a fellow human, and not some know-it-all who confines themselves to finding one specific answer to every dilemma.

People also will look to you when times are tough and easy answers are hard to find, and if you show up as someone who sticks to your values and goals, and lets that foundation guide you through life’s complexities, your team will look to you as a model of success and a steady port in the storm.