I make decisions. Everyone makes decisions.
But my decisions have different outcomes from those of others.
Why are they different?
Because my reasons for making decisions are different from those of others. As a result, my goals in making those decisions are also different.
What if everything were the same—both my reasons and my goals for making these decisions?
The environment can also influence decision-making. If I am in an environment that values individual decisions and respects differing opinions, I will be able to express my decisions more easily than if I am in an environment that imposes its will on me and requires compliance with social expectations.
Speaking of the environment, who do these decisions affect? Just me, or the wider community? The larger the scope I must consider, the greater the social pressure I feel, because I cannot “play around” as I might if I were only considering my own decisions.
Perhaps this is why we admire—and aspire to be like—those who can make major decisions. Why do we find it so difficult to make decisions, even though others, especially people in important positions such as CEOs and senior executives, can calmly make decisions that affect the lives of many?
It is possible, however, that they too have made mistakes—and this does happen. When they make mistakes, the impact is significant, and we hear about their “failures” in the news.
Even so, they do not give up and often recover. Although, admittedly, there are also those who, in order to erase their mistakes, resign and never return.
In fact, perhaps this is what we worry about most: the final outcome of our decisions. This is why we can feel overwhelmed when trying to think through every aspect of decision-making—considering our reasons, the environment, the impact, and everything else—simply to anticipate the final result.
Perhaps, then, if this is our concern, what truly deserves our attention is the issue of risk management.
Disclaimer: This article reflects my personal reflections and opinions. The views expressed are my own and are based on my individual experiences and perspectives. They are not intended to represent universal truths, professional advice, or the views of any organization or individual.