The Decision-Making Continuum

Do you decide things very quickly, or do you like to “try things on” and see how an idea fits before you make that final commitment?  These are two ends to a continuum, and neither is right or wrong. Still – I notice people tend to gravitate to one end or the other, when both ends of the continuum are valuable for different moments in the decision-making process.

Deciding things quickly can be useful when factors are few and choices are obvious. This is also a great trait when time is short and conditions are urgent.

But what about when choices are complex and options are overwhelming? It is important to spend time in the window of uncertainty, even if it is uncomfortable… or possibly even because it is uncomfortable.

Discomfort is likely part of what makes a person gravitate to one or the other end of this decision-making continuum. Some people are “planners” and so tend to prefer things worked out, decided on, and known. Other people are more comfortable in a “shoot-from-the-hip,” flexible environment where decisions may be held off until the last minute. Similarly, even if plans were set long ago, they are open to shifting and adjusting as needed. That "adjustable" decision-making style can drive planners nuts! Understandably… but sometimes there is a place and a need for the flexibility of holding off decisions until the last minute.

To some extent, I think this ties to whether you make decisions based on facts (judgment) or on impressions (intuition). Again, both are valuable, and both have their place, time, and circumstance. And again, a mixture of the ends of the continuum so that you end up someplace along the line between them is often a more useful place to be.

Which end of the decision-making continuum do you gravitate towards? When was the last time you shifted towards the other end of the continuum?

Here's an opportunity: Consciously spend some time drifting towards the opposite end of the continuum from  which you normally gravitate. If you're a planner, hold off deciding something until the last moment. If you tend to decide at the last minute, make a decision early and stick with it. (In both of these cases, you might want to start out with something small.)

Shifting your normal routine can shift your entire perspective.