Decisions are the forks in the road. We encounter them a thousand times daily, starting with the choice of ignoring our alarm or getting out of bed in the morning. And then we continue making decisions all day long – about clothes, hair, food, children, parents, pets, commuting, projects, customers, priorities, strategies, co-workers, money, technology, email, phone calls, plans, problems, investments, service providers, healthcare, and, finally, whether to watch one more show before bed.

Each decision consumes time and energy. Some consume a tiny bit and others are a tremendous drain. If a group is involved, decisions almost always take more time than they should. And every single decision is an opportunity to make a mistake. Or, at least, to launch waves of anxiety and guilt.

Despite the frequency, time and energy drain, and potential consequences of our numerous decisions, it is remarkable how few people follow any kind of recognizable, repeatable decision-making process. It is even more remarkable how few organizations have a shared process for making decisions that keeps everyone focused on the same objectives and concentrates the brainpower on the same step of the process. So we have this super common, super important activity that we engage in for hours every day and we treat it with less respect than taking a shower or making coffee.

Don’t you think it is about time you paid some attention to how you make decisions? Learn how to SOAR through decisions, whether alone or in a group, by reading: The Most Used Process In Your Company Is Also The Most Abused.