3 weeks ago
10
One day, an ape escaped from the Bronx Zoo. They searched for him everywhere in every borough. They announced his disappearance on the radio, television and newspapers, but, no one reported seeing the ape.
At last, the ape was found in the New York Public Library. The zoo officials and animal handlers were summoned to the library. They found the ape sitting at a desk in the reading room with two books in front of him. The ape was reading with great concentration. One book was the Bible, and the other was a book written by Darwin.
The zookeepers asked the ape what he was doing. The ape replied, “I’m trying to figure out whether I am my brother’s keeper or my keeper’s brother.” It is so hard to make a decision.
While humorous, the ape’s dilemma highlights a universal truth: making complex decisions can be incredibly challenging. This struggle isn’t unique to escaped apes or individuals – it affects leaders, organizations and society.
Many of us find it hard to make decisions. In my leadership workshops, I often ask how many participants struggle with decision-making, and the overwhelming majority raise their hands.
Why is it so difficult?
Fear of failure: People are afraid of making the wrong choice.
Lack of clarity: Some don’t know what they truly want.
Over-dependence on others: Many were never taught to make decisions independently as children and, as a result, struggle with the responsibility as adults.
But, here’s a vital lesson: it’s better to make your own decisions, even if they are wrong. Mistakes are among the best teachers, and decision-making improves with practice. Seeking counsel and learning from experience are crucial, but the responsibility to decide ultimately lies with each of us.
In the business world, decision-making becomes even more critical during crises. Leaders are expected to provide clarity amidst chaos, but their approach to decisions can vary dramatically.
There are three types of leaders in a crisis:
1. Frozen leaders
These leaders are paralyzed by uncertainty. Their internal dialogue sounds like this:
“I can’t believe this is happening.”
“There’s nothing I can do; this is out of my control.”
“We’re too far behind to recover.”
Frozen leaders lack the resilience to adapt, leaving their teams stuck and demoralized.
2. Hesitant leaders
Hesitant leaders are slow to act, driven by a desire to preserve stability. Their thought process includes:
“When will things return to normal?”
“We’ve already made enough changes; let’s hold off for now.”
“Do we need to pivot again?”
While hesitant leaders may avoid hasty mistakes, they risk stagnation by failing to seize opportunities during pivotal moments.
3. Agile leaders
Agile leaders embrace ambiguity and see crises as opportunities for growth. Their mindset is future-focused:
“Our mission is too important to let this crisis derail us.”
“This method isn’t working – let’s try something new.”
“What does this change make possible?”
Agile leaders are adaptable, experimental, and collaborative. They lead their teams to emerge from challenges stronger and better prepared for the future.
To navigate uncertainty effectively, whether in personal or professional life, consider the following:
Embrace responsibility
Take ownership of decisions, even if they’re difficult or risky. Mistakes can lead to valuable lessons that shape better decisions in the future.
Seek wisdom and counsel
Gather insights from trusted advisors, mentors, or colleagues, but, recognize that the final choice is yours.
Stay flexible
Be willing to adapt your approach based on new information or changing circumstances. An agile mindset can turn challenges into opportunities.
Learn from failure
Every wrong decision is a step closer to the right one. Failure isn’t the end – it’s part of the process of growth and improvement.
So, what kind of decision-maker are you?
The Good Book says: “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
Life is a series of decisions that shape our future, and every decision flips the page for your future. As our philosophizing monkey stuck between Darwin and the divine, leaders and individuals must wrestle with their dilemmas. But, here’s the kicker: unlike the monkey, you can’t just sit there and read – you’ve got to make a decision and turn the page.
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Francis Kong will run his highly acclaimed Level Up Leadership – The Next Edge, but strictly for 40 participants. This whole-day event will happen on Feb. 25 at the Rockwell Club Function Rooms. For inquiries and reservations, contact Sylene Alonzo at 0976-638-8974 or Savee at 0917-533-6817. For more information, visit www.levelupleadership.ph.
