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In today’s episode of the Leader Fluent Podcast, I’m talking about, “Eight Ingredients of Good Decision-Making.” Leadership and decision-making go hand in hand, and in this episode, I’ll share eight keys to make better decisions. If you’re not already a subscriber, I’d love for you to subscribe to Leader Fluent today on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Android, Pandora, or your favorite podcasting platform. And as always, your RATINGS and REVIEWS are deeply appreciated.
SHOW NOTES:
Leaders make countless decisions in their organizations, and those decisions are on a wide spectrum…from easy to difficult, from small to big, from simple to complex. The real question is, how do leaders consistently make great decisions? Let me share eight ingredients to help you make better decisions, and a simple question to go with each one.
1. God: What is the Holy Spirit Saying?
One temptation in leadership is to restrict our decision-making inputs to the latest research, the newest books, our closest friends, and the most respected leaders in our field. There’s nothing wrong with any of these, and we’ll talk about them in a moment, but great decision-making starts with God. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
The most helpful prayer a leader can pray is, “God, fill me with the wisdom and knowledge of your perfect will, and give me the courage to pursue it.” So, when it comes to an important decision, invite the Holy Spirit to direct you and speak to you.
2. DNA: Does the Decision Violate Our Identity?
Every church and every organization has a unique DNA. In general, an organization’s DNA is made up of four things:
- Vision – Where you’re going
- Mission – Why you exist
- Values – What’s most important
- Culture – How we do things
For your DNA to positively impact your organization, you have to integrate it into your decision-making. If you don’t, you’ll start to experience sideways energy.
3. Research: Have I Done My Homework?
In-depth decision-making requires some in-depth research. In fact, Jesus once said, “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish’” (Luke 14:28-30). The lesson is clear—good decisions require proper planning and research.
4. Experience: What Does Past Experience Reveal?
One of the greatest informers of future decisions is past experience. Job 12:12 says, “Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?” The longer you live, the more perspective you glean and the more insight you uncover. So, when you’re making decisions for your church or organization, pay attention to three types of experience:
- Personal Experience – This is the experience you personally bring to the table. It usually consists of your failures, successes, habits, education, proficiencies, and observations.
- Historical Experience – This experience draws on your church or organization’s historical trends, traditions, metrics, and behaviors. The purpose of historical experience isn’t so much to define a future strategy, but rather to understand how the church or organization might respond to future decisions.
- External Experience – This experience comes from leaders outside of your church. You might look to a coach, consultant, mentor, or another experienced leader in your field to provide fresh input before making an important decision.
5. Advice: Have I Sought the Wisdom of Others?
The book of Proverbs has some of the most practical insight on the importance of advice. For example,Proverbs 13:20 says, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” In other words, gleaning wise advice begins by carefully choosing to associate with wise people.
Then, Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.” Your willingness to actively listen will determine how much wisdom you gain from others. Finally, Proverbs 13:10 says, “Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.” In other words, wisdom comes to those who are teachable. So, the key to good advice is the PERSON (in other words, who you listen to) and your POSTURE (in other words, your willingness to learn from them).
6. Intuition: What is My Gut Telling Me?
Intuition is the most nuanced part of decision-making. John Maxwell makes a great observation when he says that we are most intuitive in the areas of our greatest giftedness. So, when it comes to decision-making, listen to your gut, especially in the areas where you have natural strength. Also, listen to the nudges from the Holy Spirit. Sometimes a nudge from the Spirit will feel like a red flag. Other times you’ll sense a nudge to take a step in a specific direction. Pay attention to your gut.
7. Influencers: Are My Key Leaders Receptive and Supportive?
There’s an old proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Well, in leadership, the key is to make sure your influencers—such as staff, board, and key leaders—are with you in the decision-making process. John Maxwell says it like this: “People buy-in to the leader before they buy-in to the vision.” You can have the greatest ideas in the world—even ideas God has birthed inside of you— but if your leaders aren’t on board, you’re going to have a hard time moving forward.
8. Timing: Is the Timing Right?
Timing is not one dimensional in its application. When you’re making a decision, you have to ask three timing questions:
- Is the Timing Right for the Leader?
- Is the Timing Right for the Team?
- Is the Timing Right for the Church?
Those are the eight ingredients to help you make good decisions. Let me wrap up by pointing out what happens when one of these ingredients is missing.
- Without God, decisions will lack supernatural wisdom.
- Without DNA, decisions can lack organizational consistency.
- Without Research, decisions can lack depth.
- Without Experience, decisions can lack maturity.
- Without Advice, decisions can lack perspective.
- Without Intuition, decisions can lack peace.
- Without Influencers, decisions can lack buy-in.
- Without Timing, decisions can lack impact.
The decisions you make each day will ripple through your entire church or organization. And you, your teams, and your entire organization will pay the price (or reap the rewards) of every decision.
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