It’s good to be thoughtful when weighing options and making decisions, but it’s never good to waffle and constantly second-guess yourself. This kind of hesitation and back-tracking can lead to missed opportunities. If you lead a team, tentativeness can also erode their trust in you. They’re counting on you to show them the way forward with clarity and confidence.
Joel Garfinkle, a renowned leadership expert, says tentativeness can be a leader’s worst enemy. If you want to become a more decisive leader, read on. We share some of Garfinkle’s best tips in this issue of PromoPro Daily.
1. Reframe your fear. According to Garfinkle, tentativeness often comes from a fear of failure. It’s important to identify your fears and then analyze how your hesitation impacted the team or project. When you know your triggers, you can address the causes of your hesitation and take steps to address them.
2. Set decision-making criteria in advance. This helps you avoid overthinking. Garfinkle recommends defining the key factors you’ll consider, the time you’ll allot to information gathering and the threshold for deciding. For example, you’ll make a choice at 80% certainty.
3. Speak strongly. Don’t use phrases like “I think” and “sort of.” These can dilute your message, Garfinkle says. Instead, say things like “I recommend.” This can make a big difference in how others perceive your message.
4. Be OK with “good enough.” Garfinkle points out that no decision is made with 100% certainty. He says you can practice acting on imperfect information by delegating tasks without double-checking every detail and giving opinions in meetings without first doing exhaustive research.
5. Embrace the pause and pivot technique. If you need a little more time to think things through, say something like, “That’s a great point. I’ll come back with a recommendation by the end of the day.” Garfinkle says this keeps you in control and demonstrates intentionality rather than indecision.
6. Proactively seek feedback. Ask your colleagues or mentors if you come across as indecisive in meetings. Getting feedback from others can help you gauge your progress.
7. Prepare for pushback. Garfinkle recommends anticipating objections so you can address them with more confidence. He advises saying something like, “I understand your concern and here’s why I believe this is the best course of action.”
Try the tips above to strengthen your leadership presence. You don’t need to have all the answers, but you should lead with intention. Every decision builds momentum, so trust yourself and your experience to become a more decisive leader.
Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: Joel Garfinkle is recognized as one of the nation’s top 50 executive coaches. He’s a bestselling author, keynote speaker and corporate trainer.
