4 Ways to Be More Decisive

I was watching The Good Wife on Netflix when a scene caught my attention. Two law partners were debating whether to expand their practice by renting additional office space. Back and forth they went until one finally said, “Whenever the last partner couldn’t decide something, he always went back to the mission statement.” The other partner responded, “What mission statement?!?”

That moment gave me a chuckle—and a spark of inspiration. It made me think about the tools we can use to strengthen our decision-making skills.

Here are four ways to be more decisive:

1. Declare Your Mission and Create a Vision Statement

To clarify, Wikipedia states:

A mission statement describes an organization’s purpose and answers the questions: “What business are we in?” and “What is our business for?” A vision statement provides strategic direction and describes what the owner or founder wants the company to achieve in the future.

I believe both are essential. The clearer you are about your who and why, the more everything else—from your team to your marketing—falls into place.

A strong mission and vision statement help define your brand’s values and serve as a guiding compass. When faced with a decision, ask yourself: Does this partnership/product/collaboration align with my original vision? If the answer is yes, proceed with confidence. If not, move on without hesitation.

2. The Good Ol’ Pros and Cons List

For the sake of efficiency, I’m not referring to a long, drawn-out deliberation process. Instead, do a quick gut-check: jot down the benefits and drawbacks of the choice in front of you. If you struggle to list even a few pros, that’s often a red flag that the decision isn’t worth pursuing.

A simple, fast pros-and-cons analysis helps you cut through indecision and move forward with clarity.

3. Stop Asking Other People

This is a biggie.

Most indecisive people share one trait: they constantly seek validation from others before making a move. While support networks are invaluable for major life choices, over-relying on external input for everyday decisions weakens your confidence.

Start small. The next time you find yourself texting a friend for input on what to eat, what to wear, or which movie to watch, pause. Instead, make the decision yourself. As you practice self-reliance in the little things, you’ll develop the inner trust needed for bigger business decisions—like whether to sign a lease, define your ideal client, or hire a virtual assistant.

Protect your energy and trust your own judgment.

4. Make Friends with the Root of Your Hesitation

Many of our decisions are tangled up in emotional resistance. Fear, anxiety, low self-esteem, and self-doubt can all cloud our judgment and keep us stuck in indecision. If you find yourself procrastinating, it may be time to dig deeper.

Personal journaling, meditation, or working with a coach can help uncover the core reasons behind your hesitation. If a hidden scarcity mindset or fear of failure is driving your indecision, no amount of pros-and-cons lists will help until the root issue is addressed.

The good news? You can retrain your brain. You can choose to believe that decisiveness is a skill you can build, rather than a trait you either have or don’t. It all starts with trusting yourself, tapping into your intuition, and using available resources to fill knowledge gaps when needed.

Decision-making is an essential part of leadership. Choose to step into your power with confidence. You've got this!

✨ Additional Resources: ✨

 7 Steps to Make Fast and Confident Decisions

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