October 18, 2006

May not be reprinted without the consent of Sue Miller

Contact: Sue@suemillerpresentations.com

WORKPLACE WISDOM NEWSLETTER

Make up your mind!

Making decisions can generate internal frenzy!

Right?

Everything is going great. We’re all happy. The family’s doing

well.

Then...up jumps a big dilemma!

How many times has this happened?

A decision must be made, and I must make it!

I can study a situation until I confuse myself!

I’m not necessarily a risk-taker, but I’m not afraid either.

Sometimes we all get slowed down by over-analyzing.

My husband calls this “analysis paralysis”!

He has taught me to be a better decision maker.

Today, I accomplish much more on any given day!

We are all faced with decisions that involve risk:

• A special field to pursue in education

• A time to move out of the house and go on our own

• A special person to spend the rest of our life with

• A time to start a family

• A particular job – to apply for it, to stay in it, or to leave it

• A place to live – the location and the type of house

• A stock that lures us to buy, sell, or hold

• A time to retire

• A next step that we must take…

• And so on...

Failing to take risks for "fear of making mistakes"

may be

the most dangerous type of mistake you can make!

Here are some tips for future decision making:

1. Do I have to make this decision?

Sometimes you must make the decision all alone.

Sometimes you need others to help you make it.

2. What do I have to decide?

Pin it down and write it on paper.

Isolate the main decision from all of your feelings.

October 18, 2006

May not be reprinted without the consent of Sue Miller

Contact: Sue@suemillerpresentations.com

3. When must I make the decision?

Some decisions can wait until there is more information.

Some decisions must be made immediately.

Sometimes things can be solved by just waiting.

4. What else do I need to know?

Gather the facts...and remember, you’ll never have 100% of the facts.

Evaluate what information is missing.

Consider the consequences of each possible solution.

5. Reach a decision.

List your "pros and cons".

Normally, your decision will be the one with the most "pros".

6. NOW, EXECUTE YOUR DECISION!

As you repeat these steps over and over again,

you’ll develop the ability to make better - and quicker - decisions.

You'll get very good at it!

A clear-headed decision maker is extremely valuable in today’s fastpaced

environment.

Time spent in "pondering" is nice...but not always available to us.

Tip #6 is absolutely necessary!

The lessons for us all?

1. Practice, every day, making good decisions quickly.

2. Realize that nothing happens until YOU EXECUTE your

decision.

A planner is a only a "dreamer" until he executes his plan.

A planner that executes (and does it quickly!) leads the field.

EXECUTE YOUR PLAN.

BE A DOER!

MAKE POSITIVE THINGS HAPPEN!