When You Have Two Good Choices
The past three weeks, I’ve faced two really good opportunities that were mutually exclusive. I wrestled with the pros and cons. I tossed and turned over the unknowns. I asked for expert advice. I fasted and prayed for direction. And you know what? I think we sometimes simply are given two really good things to choose between.
So how do you decide which way to go? You can do all the things I did, but I think there’s one fundamental piece that centered my final decision – my vision. Businesses and leaders talk about vision all the time. The Work of Leaders reveals 87% of the best-rated leaders have a vision, while only 10% of the worst-rated leaders did. We all crave vision to know where we are going. Good leaders provide vision so we can know if their vision aligns with our personal values and goals. It helps us engage as employees and customers.
As I fumbled through this decision, it became clear I really needed to revisit my vision. Since this was both a personal and business decision, I had to ask myself these questions:
* What do I want from life and work? What’s my vision for where I want to be today, tomorrow and five years from now?
* How does my vision impact my family, colleagues and friends?
* Has my vision changed or will it change based on my life stage?
After I got clear on my vision, I could ask questions that helped me sort through the two options.
* Why am I drawn to each opportunity and how does that align with my vision?
* What pieces of my vision does this opportunity open or close?
* Which opportunity has the greatest match for my vision?
Now asking these questions didn’t make the process easier. It just gave me parameters for measuring the likelihood of success and satisfaction in each opportunity.
Sometimes decisions are easy. One option is good and one is bad. It’s clear cut, but when you face a tough decision between two good options, returning to your vision will provide a solid framework for your decision-making process.
If you don’t have a vision for yourself, or if it’s been a while since you spent time thinking through where you want to go and why, I challenge you to spend a half-hour this week exploring your vision. You never know when it will bring you the opportunity to choose between two good things.
Keynote speaker, trainer, and consultant, Sarah Gibson, helps organizations leverage the power of communication, teamwork and diversity to improve engagement and transform teams. To buy her book or inquire about her speaking programs, please visit www.sarahjgibson.com.
