How many decisions do you make in a day? Many sources estimate that the average adult makes about 35,000 decisions every day. No wonder my brain is tired!
Obviously not every decision you make carries the same weight. Many of your decisions only affect yourself, but as your level of leadership responsibility rises, more of your decisions intersect with and have an impact on others.
Great leaders aren’t just decisive; they understand how they make decisions. And more importantly, they know when to change their approach. Look at these common decision-making styles to understand where you might need to strengthen your capacity to make great decisions for yourself, your team, and your company.
The Analyst – If you’re the type to build spreadsheets, analyze market trends, and get lost in research before making a move, congratulations—you’re an Analytical Decision-Maker. Your strength? Precision. Your weakness? Overthinking.
Limit overthinking by setting a time limit on research. Give yourself 24 hours (or a week, depending on the decision’s weight) to gather facts. Then act. Perfection is the enemy of progress.
The Go-With-Your-Gut – Some leaders just know. They rely on experience and intuition, trusting that the right choice will rise to the surface. This style works best when you’re in your wheelhouse—when your gut is backed by years of hard-earned wisdom. The weak spot here is that you can’t know everything.
If you’re making gut-based decisions in an area where you have limited, slow down. Run your choice past a trusted mentor or team member to make sure you’re not flying blind.
The Collaborator – If you believe the best ideas come from your team, you probably favor a Consultative or Democratic style. You get input, encourage discussion, and build consensus before making a call. Your strength is to create buy-in that will maximize your team’s willingness to implement the decision.
Know when collaboration is helpful and when it’s a crutch. Gathering input is wise, but endless meetings won’t make a tough decision any easier. Sometimes, leadership means making the final call—alone.
The Avoider – We all procrastinate sometimes. But indecision is still a decision—it just lets circumstances decide for you. Sometimes a bit of delay creates a little breathing space tht will allow for better decisions, but avoiding tough calls out of fear or discomfort creates chaos for your team.
If a decision is lingering too long, break it down. What’s the *first* step you need to take? Just move that one piece forward today. Momentum breeds clarity.
No single decision-making style is best. The real key? Knowing when to use each one. The best leaders don’t just make decisions; they make *adjustments*—to their thinking, their strategies, and their leadership.
Success isn’t just about making decisions. It’s about making decisions that will be implemented most consistently and effectively. When you use the right approach to decision-making at the right time, everyone wins.
Blessings,
Chris Ann Williams, CEO