Long And Complicated Stories Affect Decisions
About to make a big decision? Do you find yourself stuck behind long and complicated stories? What stories are you telling yourself?
When someone asks you about a project, a situation, or a surprising outcome that they’ve heard through the grapevine is there a story behind it?
In many circumstances, there is.
Whenever you are facing a challenging decision, especially one that appears to have long-term effects on the future, there might be a story.
That doesn’t make the situation any more unique. It does often mean that there are numerous pros and cons. So many, in fact, that it makes the choice that much harder.
Big Decisions
In decision making many people will often suggest listing the pros and cons.
When you make a list, you can more clearly see the appropriate direction. This does sometimes help, but what often happens is that this exercise brings more focus.
When you focus on the main point. The area that may seem to have the most benefit or worst consequence the story gets shorter. Shorter means you have less anxiety and less pressure on the decision.
Complicated Stories
Sometimes the decision that has been chronically delayed needs to narrow down to one point on either side. The reason for and the reason against. Everything else is just making it more complicated.
There is often a third point though, and that third option is to stay on course, don’t make a new or different decision.
Choices can be tough. Big decisions feel hard to make.
You always want to be sure you make the right one.
Sometimes it helps to consider that the next big decision you make will absolutely be the right decision at the moment you make it.
Life is fluid. Don’t over complicate it.
-DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
