How to Become More Decisive

I want to be decisive.

Why?

Because decisive people are the ones that change the world and succeed in life. It's hard not to admire someone who is resolute.

So how can we become more decisive?

I used to think that being decisive was about making fast decisions. I never quite understood how someone can be so sure of their decision without fully analyzing all the pros and cons. It seemed a bit reckless to me. I also thought decisiveness was something that comes with age and experience but that has been debunked by my encounters with many young people who are decisive and many older folks who are not.

Having studied the lives of decisive leaders, I found that decisiveness is directly correlated to how well you know yourself and how often you take time to self-reflect. People who are decisive already know what they want and have thought a lot about what is acceptable and not acceptable in their lives long before having to decide. That is why when it comes time to make a decision, they seem sure of themselves. When you clearly know where you stand, it is hard not to be decisive.

How often do you reflect on your values and beliefs? Do you know what is acceptable and not acceptable in your life?

From my experience and while leading the Know What You Want Career Workshop, I have noticed that many people (myself included) rarely take their time to look within. I am so busy with what is going on outside of me that it feels counterproductive to sit and think about who I am. Recently, I have consciously taken more time to learn about myself and I have noticed that I am naturally more comfortable with the decisions I make.

Take some time to self-reflect. It'll save you time in the future.