Strategies and Tactics for Women by Dr. Shannon Reece

At some point in the distant past women were mislabeled as indecisive.  Many ancient cultures (and even some in the present) didn’t give women the license to choose.  Decisions were made by men, and that was that.

Bear witness to any present-day woman juggling work, family, home, carpool, food acquisition, etc. and you realize that if women were truly incapable of being decisive life would cease to function.  Women are called upon to make a myriad of decisions each day that directly impact all areas of their lives and those around them.  This inherent strength is a vital asset to running a successful business and being an effective leader.

But there are times when women (and men) get overwhelmed by options and uncertainty about the future and begin to waver when it’s time to act.  It’s easy to let fear or the noise from the world prevent you from moving forward, especially when you feel like your business is on the line. So what do you do to maintain a decisive mindset? Here are 4 tips to help keep you on track:

1. Trust yourself – Just like animals rely on their instincts, you need to rely on your gut.  Your thoughts dictate your actions, so believe you are decisive and you will be when it counts.
2. Tackle one decision at a time – Nothing is more distracting than having too many things vying for your attention when trying to make a decision.  Make a list in order of importance and tackle one item at a time, giving each your full attention.
3. Avoid perfectionistic analysis paralysis – If you are constantly worried about making the wrong decision, you will never make any.  If an outcome isn’t all you hoped for then cherish the value that comes in the lesson learned.
4. Be courageous – Life is full of challenges and leaps of faith that require you to step outside your comfort zone.  But it’s in those moments that you will experience the most growth, so don’t be afraid to go for it.

I love this quote from T. Boone Pickens that sums up the necessity of being decisive, especially in business…

“Be willing to make decisions. That’s the most important quality in a good leader. Don’t fall victim to the ‘ready-aim-aim-aim syndrome. You must be willing to fire.”

What are some tips you use to be more decisive?

© 2010 Reece International LLC/Dr. Shannon Reece. All rights reserved.

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Dr. Shannon Reece – The One Trusted Woman in a Man’s Business World

Starting your own business can be tough, but having the right tools makes all the difference.  Dr. Reece provides the strategies and tactics women need to get their businesses from zero to launch and achieve real results.  For more information visit www.DrShannonReece.com.