Sometimes we put off decisions for days, weeks, or even months. We weigh up the arguments, hope for more clarity, and yet remain in the status quo. But that too is a decision: those who don’t decide automatically choose to leave everything as it is.

There are reasons why we delay decisions. Often it’s not a lack of options, but internal barriers:

The result of all these hurdles: we remain stuck, even though every step forward, no matter how small, would bring greater clarity.

Use the power of your subconscious mind to make decisions and to review them.

Especially when there are only two alternatives, it can help to work with inner images. A little exercise:

1. Close your eyes and imagine a fork in the road.
   • Right: Alternative 1
   • Left: Alternative 2.
2. Picture the outcome of both paths as accurately as possible.
3. Listen to your inner voice: Which way are you drawn?

You will often realize quickly which direction feels more right even if it is not immediately logical.

Then put the matter aside for a moment. Sleep on it. Our subconscious continues to work without us noticing and often provides us with the inner clarity we were looking for the next morning.

Example: Decision about a career change
You have to decide whether to stay in your current position or take on a new challenge.

Visualize your new career challenge on the path to the right. What does your everyday working life look like, who do you deal with? Perhaps imagine a typical situation as it might occur. How does it feel?

Once you have the image and feeling for the right path, do the same for the left one. Imagine a typical situation in your current position. Who do you deal with, what do you do? Again, take a typical situation, how does it feel?

Now you have both images and feelings: Where do you feel calm and comfortable, and where does your stomach tend to tighten?

You will often quickly notice which option feels more right to you, even if it is not immediately logical.

After you have decided on something, make that decision in your mind and let your subconscious work while you sleep. How does the decision feel the next morning? Does it still feel right?

A decision is rarely final. Only in the rarest of cases is it a matter of life and death. Most of the time, we commit to a path for a certain period of time and are free to change it later.

The important thing to remember is that there is no such thing as the perfect decision. There is only the decision that is best for the current moment. Every choice brings with it experience, and even a “wrong” decision provides valuable insights that allow us to act more straightforward next time.

Especially when you gain new insights or have already taken a step in the direction of your decision, you will gain a more straightforward perspective. It is acceptable, and even desirable, to incorporate these experiences into your decision. Often, it is only a minor adjustment that is needed, not a complete change of direction. Especially when others are affected by your decision, make your thoughts and experiences transparent so that adjustments are understandable for everyone.

Decisions often affect more than just your own path; they also send messages to others. Those who make straightforward decisions convey direction and reliability. Especially in a professional environment, it can be a relief for teams when a decision is made, even if it is not perfect one. This is because a clear direction enables action and creates trust.

Another helpful method is the so-called “eco-check.” This is not about the environment, but about the surroundings:

• Who is affected by my decision?
• How does my decision affect these people—positively, neutrally, or negatively?

Looking beyond our own perspective prevents us from viewing a decision in isolation. At the same time, it reveals whether the decision leads to greater clarity and consistency in our eccosystem and also shows us who we need to talk to about decisions and who we need to take with us on the new path.

I think you can see what valuable insights you can gain from this. You can address issues directly before they happen. You can prepare for reactions and plan in advance how to deal with them.

An important aspect of successful decision-making is employee involvement. When employees are involved in decision-making processes, it not only increases acceptance of the decision, but also promotes commitment and motivation within the team. Here are some approaches to achieving this:

• Transparent communication: Inform your team about upcoming decisions and the reasons behind them. Open communication builds trust and understanding.
• Seek feedback: Ask your employees for their opinions and suggestions. This can be done in the form of meetings, surveys, or informal conversations.
• Joint decision-making: Actively involve your team in the decision-making process. This can be done through workshops, brainstorming sessions, or decision-making committees.
• Delegate responsibility: Give your employees the opportunity to make their own decisions. This promotes personal responsibility and strengthens confidence in their abilities.

Unmade decisions tie up energy. Every unresolved question remains like a tab in your mind that demands attention. Those who make conscious decisions regain freedom of action.

And even if not everything goes perfectly, decisions make life lively, flexible, and creative. They are less of an end point and more of a step along the way that can be realigned again and again.