You know that feeling when you’re stuck in a decision? The more you think about it, the harder it gets to move.
I’ve been an Orioles fan since I was a kid. If baseball’s taught me anything, it’s that you can’t wait forever for the perfect pitch. Sometimes you just have to swing.
In operations, you almost never have perfect information. Research shows that executives spend a huge chunk of their time making decisions, and a lot of that time is wasted on choices that could be made faster or delegated.*
What really matters? Companies that make faster, higher-quality decisions pull ahead. They see bigger growth and better results than their slower peers.**
This episode is all about how to cut through indecision without sacrificing quality, especially when everything around you is changing at warp speed.
Why Ops Leaders Struggle with Decision Overload
I keep this little decision-maker coin on my desk that was my uncle’s. Sometimes, when I’m stuck, I just flick it and let fate decide. It’s not exactly scientific, but it snaps me out of overthinking and gets me unstuck. And honestly, sometimes something like that is all you need.
One thing I really admire about people who lead operations is your attention to detail. You see how everything fits together, you get how the systems work, and you always want to get it right. But when everything’s up in the air, that perfectionism can weigh you down.
I often hear some version of, “I just need more information before I can decide.” But here’s the thing: in today’s world, you’ll never have all the information. You get pieces of the picture, and you have to move forward with what you’ve got.
A client once told me, “It’s like trying to catch water from a firehose with a dixie cup.” Uh, yeah I get it. Isn’t that a great metaphor for what it feels like to try to keep up with the information flow while still making timely decisions?
So, what do you do with this? You don’t need to start being reckless. You just need to match your decision process to what’s really at stake.
Here’s something that works: First, distinguish between reversible and irreversible decisions. Many decisions in ops are actually reversible. They feel huge, but if you’re wrong, you can usually fix it without everything falling apart.
How to Make Faster, Smarter Decisions in Operations
For these reversible decisions, try a 15-Minute Decision Sprint. Here’s how it works:
- Set a timer for 15 minutes.
- Write down or say out loud what you know for sure, what you think is probable, and what information you’re missing.
- Then ask: “If I make this call now with 80% confidence, what’s the worst that could happen? And can we fix it?”
- If the answer is yes, pull the trigger. As one of my mentors once told me, “Done is better than perfect when the cost of waiting is higher.”
- If the answer is no: That means the risk is too high or the consequences aren’t recoverable. In that case, pause and identify the one key piece of information or action you need to take to reduce the risk. Set a quick, specific deadline to gather what’s missing, then run the sprint again.
- If the answer is ‘I don’t know’: Ask yourself who on your team (or in your network) could help you get perspective fast. Reach out, get a gut check, and then repeat the sprint with their input.
The goal is to keep moving forward, not to keep this hanging over your head waiting for everything to be perfect.
Practical Tips to Overcome Indecision in Your Ops Team
Here’s a practical tip: For your next team meeting, identify one decision that’s been lingering. Apply the 15-Minute Decision Sprint right there in the meeting. You might be amazed at how much clarity comes from this constraint.
If you’re stuck, just make the call. If it works, send me a high-five. If not, tell me what you’d change.
Remember, indecision has its own cost, in team energy, in missed opportunities, and in your own peace of mind. You don’t need perfect information. You just need enough to take the next step.
I’ll leave you with this question: What decision have you been sitting on that, if made today, would create momentum for you and your team?
So, give it a try, and let me know how it goes. And if this episode got you thinking about the power of quick, confident decisions, you’ll love episode 69, which is all about Mastering the Strategic ‘No’. Check it out!
You can’t stop the chaos, but you can change the game.
*Reference: McKinsey & Company. “Decision making in the age of urgency.” 2019.
https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/decision-making-in-the-age-of-urgency
**Reference: MIT CISR and Insight Partners. “Top Performers Are Becoming Real-Time Businesses.” 2024.
https://cisr.mit.edu/publication/2024_0801_RealTimeBusiness_WeillvanderBergBirnbaumdePlanta*