Should I or Shouldn’t I?

It could be that you’re deciding to accept that ideal job with a long commute OR debating if you should go sightseeing on vacation in the rain.

When deciding, to do or not to do, thoughts are typically focused on what might happen or what you’re not going to like about it. The final decision affects both the experience you have and the perception you create for your brand.

An experience that got me thinking about perceptions happened when my friend Jane sent a message letting me know she cancelled our foursome’s golf reservation for the following day. Reason – the weather reports were predicting a 70% chance of rain!

This is not typical behaviour for Jane so I wondered why she was being so cautious and conservative. Why not just take our chances? What was it about the chance of rain that made her cancel?

This conversation led to even more thinking. The same weekend my oldest son, Eric, considered backing out of a two-day outdoor concert with all of his buddies because they were calling for rain.

It surprised me because Eric is not typically cautious or reluctant. He is the one that jumps in and thinks later. The prediction of rain almost kept him from having, what he now describes as, the time of his life.

What about me…

I am not always up for anything nor am I always carefree. I am typically in for following through on a plan, having a good time, going with the flow and am willing to risk less than perfect weather conditions for friends and being outdoors.

Even though I am typically up for an adventure, I often will often decide not to participate when friends call at the last minute. What perception does that create about MY brand that isn’t typical? What am I focusing on? (Psst…it’s the effort!)

What I learned…

Even though the rain held off and we could have played, it was not Jane’s intention to be overly cautious by canceling golf. But, with one decision involving three other women, she demonstrated a side of herself that likes to play it safe.

When Eric considered backing out of going to an outdoor concert Kyle, his younger brother, helped him see that getting wet was no big deal compared to the fun he would have. It did rain. He did get wet. It was not a big deal and he had a blast!

My lack of spontaneity has me out of alignment with my sense of adventure. I am working on jumping in because when I do I NEVER find myself saying, “I wish I would have stayed home.”

When you make your next decision, be it big or small, consider the pros and cons. Also, consider the impact on your brand and the message you deliver. Consistency is key to building trust and credibility in all parts of your life.

What are you focused on when you are making your decisions? How comfortable are you with risk? Does it align with who you really are or want to be? Are the decisions you make in alignment with your personal brand?

What do you focus on when making a decision?

Align yourself with what matters most to you. Live your brand fully expressed with intention and purpose to play bigger!

Are you interested in having a conversation to explore how you can define your personal brand and accelerate your growth as a leader, individually or as a team? Send an e-mail to book a complimentary 30-minute consultation.

Dorothy Lazovik

Dorothy is on a mission to shift the culture of organizations to people first! Supporting leaders in fulfilling their TO BE LIST to better deliver on their TO DO LIST. Doing the work impacts how leaders see themselves, the people they lead, the environment they create and the outcomes they achieve. Producing higher engagement, ownership and productivity. How would making a change like this elevate your business results?

Authentic Leaders Edge

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Ready to implement a model that elevates your leaders and has them taking ownership of who they are and the results they achieve? Interested in creating the environment that puts people first to increase engagement, build trust and improve how business gets done?

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