WHAT'D YOU DECIDE?

"There is no more miserable human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision."

William James (1842-1910) American philosopher/psychologist.

Thoughtful planning prior to taking action is a good thing.

Just not to the point of indecision.

THERE'S NO DISPUTING THIS

"He is no lawyer who cannot take two sides."

Charles Lamb (1775-1834) English essayist.

Lawyers are subjected to much criticism, this quote alluding to one reason why; their ability to take either side of a dispute.

What's wrong with that?

Management would do well to develop this skill.

Before attempting to manage anything, first learn to understand the likely consequences of each side of every decision you make. 

HERE'S AN ORIGINAL THOUGHT

"It is difficult, if not impossible, for most people to think otherwise than in the fashion of their own period."

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Irish writer.

By "period" Mr. Shaw means thinking, doing, and saying what everyone you know is thinking, doing, and saying, only because that is what they are thinking, doing, and saying.

If you find yourself doing that you're little more than just one of many sheep in the flock, mindlessly following many other sheep.

It's ok, to a point, to follow, just make sure you do so thoughtfully, because you've decided that is what you should do.

REALLY THINK ABOUT THIS

"There is no coming to consciousness without pain."

Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) Swiss psychologist/psychiatrist.

Be aware of pain to come should you not live consciously.

Thoughtfully, consciously consider the implications of your decisions prior to making them.

RIGHT OR WRONG, CHOOSE

"In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing."

Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) 26th president of the U.S.

You might think Mr. Roosevelt overstated the value of action; clearly there are times when no action is preferable to the wrong action.

But notice he qualified his statement as pertaining to "any moment of decision"; the point in time where making a decision is mandatory regardless of how well prepared you might be.

Still don't see it?

Think back to school. You are taking a test and have one last question to answer. Get the right answer, you pass. Pick the wrong answer, you fail. Choose not to answer you also fail.

What would you do?

OF THIS I'M CERTAIN

"Doubt is not a pleasant mental state, but certainty is a ridiculous one."

Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer and historian.

I would have chosen an adjective other than "ridiculous"; one that doesn't leave you wondering why certainty is ridiculous.

It is because there is so little we can be certain about and being certain about uncertain things is extremely dangerous.

FAULTY JUDGMENT

"Everyone complains of the badness of his memory, but nobody of his judgment."

François de La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680) French writer.

Memory plays a very important role in judgment.

To a large degree we judge based on what we believe we remember.

The results of our judgments are too important to trust only to that.

THE HEART (AND BRAIN) OF THE MATTER

"Where the heart lies, let the brain lie also."

Robert Browning (1812 -1889) British poet.

Very poetic but when it comes to business, also difficult to do.

It's not a matter of the heart or brain (our emotional and rational selves) being in charge; neither needs to always follow the other.

Better the right one leads when circumstance calls for what each do best.

MAYBE NOT

"Trust your instinct to the end, though you can render no reason."

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) U.S. poet/essayist/lecturer

The fact that your instinct tells you to do/not do, say/not say something, may be reason enough to do the opposite.

Look to the past.

If your instinct guided decision making has too often led you down the wrong path, you may want to rethink what you initially think is the right course of action.

GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER

"It is well for the heart to be naive and the mind not to be."

Anatole France (1844-1924) French writer.

However, since the heart often rules the mind there can be problems, particularly when making investments.

When it comes to business listen to your heart but make decisions with your mind.

THE PERILS OF INCOMPLETE INTELLIGENCE

"Better to be ignorant of a matter than half know it."

Publilius Syrus (1st Century BC) Roman writer and poet

I respectfully suggest an edit.

Better to be ignorant of a matter than half know it, taking action as though you knew it all.

I've been guilty of this, what about you?

TRUE FOR PEOPLE AS WELL

"Neither have they hearts to stay, nor wit enough to run away."

Samuel Butler

17th century British poet/satirist

When it comes to careers this is true for way too many people, and, as a result, the source of much professional and personal unhappiness.

If you are not happy with what you do, create a plan to become happy.

Leaving things as they are should not be considered a viable option.

I PERMANENTLY BELIEVE THIS IS TEMPORARILY TRUE

"Never make permanent decisions based on temporary feelings."

Unknown

The trick is knowing when you are doing the first and which are the latter.

How do you do that?

"HOW" MORE THAN "WHAT"

"It does not take much strength to do things, but it requires great strength to decide what to do."

Elbert Hubbard

19th century American editor, publisher, author 

More than most realize.

The answer is planning and if you don't know how to plan, learn.

Sitting In Judgement

"Do not judge and you will never be mistaken."

Jean Jacques Rousseau

18th century Swiss political philosopher

Fine for life in general, at least in theory, but not in business.

A manager's job is to judge, to make decisions, most often without sufficient information.

You have to decide what to do as well as what not to do.

Just do so as thoughtfully and fairly as possible.

Made Of Sterner Stuff?

"Such as we are made of, such we be."

William Shakespeare

16th century English poet/playwright

In business as in our personal lives, just as true for our companies as ourselves.

Decisive Indecisiveness?

"I must have a prodigious quantity of mind; it takes me as much as a week, sometimes, to make it up."

Mark Twain

19th American humorist

Carefully considering the facts prior to making a critical decision is as important in business as is making timely decisions.

How do you find balance between the two?

Everyone Thinks So!

"I guess the definition of a lunatic is a man surrounded by them."

Ezra Pound

20th century American poet/intellectual

You are a manager and everyone but one of your staff is convinced that one individual is wrong, the rest of them right.

While you understand why they feel this way, you privately wonder if she may be right, the rest of them wrong.

What do you do?

Close Follower?

"Be not the first by which a new thing is tried, or the last to lay the old aside."

Alexander Pope

17th century English poet

I understand the problems associated with being the "point" on the "arrow", but I think I'll continue to error on the side of too soon versus too late.

At least in business.

You?

Not Me!

"Opposition may be sweet to a man when he has christened it persecution."

George Eliot

19th century British writer

When involved in a dispute, it isn't human nature to see ourselves as the problem is it?

Him/her, not me.

But never?  Ever?  Really??