Make Decisions ...

Making decisions is easier for some than others. While there are those who find acting on decisions is harder than arriving at one, the current trend of smaller staffs has made the process more intricate. Simply put, there are fewer people around to carry out whatever it is you've decided on.

It’s rare I get to use a Yusuf/Cat Stevens song reference, but it's true. “Oh Baby Baby It’s A Wild World.”

I talked with a PD having issues making decisions because as he says, “I’ve found myself hesitating because my support staff is becoming mostly me.”

Coach: Is there a particular upcoming or recent decision you’ve made that is bothering you?

PD: No, it’s the way I’m going about making decisions. It didn’t used to be this way.

Coach: What exactly are you worried about?

PD: I feel like my brain is broken and that I’m not interpreting things the way I should before I put things in motion on anything.

Coach: How long have you been in radio and in programming?

PD: 18 years overall and a PD for the last 7 years. I work for a good-sized company and have access to other programmers, but it comes down to me. I’m the one who has to pull the trigger on programming and all things related, like marketing or even our website. I’m doing my job, but I’m not sure of what I’m instructing others to do.

Coach: Between the downsizing and the pandemic, everyone is on overload. By the way, are you working from home?

PD: I go in 2 or 3 days a week for part of the day. Very few are around when I am there. I’m doing a lot of Zoom video conferencing meetings. Even for aircheck critique meetings with my air talent.

Coach: Thank you, you’ve set the stage on why you are asking about decision making.

PD: I just feel stuck and reluctant on even what used to be simple decisions.

Coach: What are you worried about?

PD: That my thoughts are clouded, and I’ve lost touch with making good decisions.

Coach: Are you trying to build the sandcastle before all the sand is in the box? In other words, are you trying to be perfect?

PD: Maybe. I feel like everything I’m doing right now is being scrutinized. I just feel unsure of anything.

Coach: The best thing I ever did was to label what I felt was a part of my decision-making process. I don’t know about you, but I do better when I categorize and mentally picture what box I’m selecting from.

PD: I’m not sure I understand.

Coach: Alright, let me try to explain it this way. A lawyer friend of mine recently shared that she thinks of all the angles and puts herself in the shoes of others whenever she makes a decision. I think she is right in her approach. She’s using what I call “intelligent gut.” Applying her experience for the decision process. The other thing she pointed out is that you can’t worry about the consequences. If things don’t go as well as planned, you make adjustments. I call the opposite of ‘intelligent gut,” “immediate gut.” That’s a decision without any thought. It’s the equivalent to a heads-or-tails-coin toss.

PD: What if I’m wrong using either type of gut you just told me about?

Coach: Sounds like a fear of failure. If a decision you make doesn’t pan out, it just means it failed. However, it doesn’t make you a failure. And failing is how we get experience. I think video conferencing has messed with your ability to use your intuitive nature to understand parameters for how things might affect people and outcomes.

PD: Hmm. So, these daily zoom calls have messed with my head and that’s making me worry about making decisions.

Coach: From your text to my ears, yes, that’s what it sounds like. Now that you have talked this out, maybe you can figure out a way to get comfortable and find a way back to your normal process -- pre-pandemic.

PD: I see what you mean, it makes sense, I get it, I need to readjust to the circumstances and stop worrying so much. I never did before.

Coach: Our minds are our best computers. Like a computer, sometimes we need to upgrade our brain’s operating system. Find ways to get your mind to operate as if you are at the office every day. One last thing --remember, “a bad decision is making no decision.”