quotes on decision making problem solving

• Vision Statement
• Choosing Competitors
• Segmentation Strategy
• Business Funding
• Ethical Decision Making
• Group Decision Making
• Choosing Experts
• Decision Framing
• Generating Alternatives
• Making a Decision
• Managing Implementation
• Decision Model
• Problem Solving
• Decision Quality
• Learning from Mistakes
• Style Criteria
• Collaborative
• Activities & Fun
• Decision Timing
• Thinking Errors
• Groupthink Theory
• Procrastination
• Approaches in deciding
• Influencing Decisions
• Choosing in Uncertainty
• Small Decisions
• Decision Speed
• Evidence Based Decisions
• Social Decision Making
• Judgment in Decisions
• Decision Fatigue
• Managing Change
• Innovation Management
• Change and Innovation
• Types of Innovation
• Incremental Innovation
• Business Model Innovation
• Innovation Model
• Business Decisions
• Process Steps
• Styles Summary
• Article Summary

More Problems and Problem Solving Quotes

Take a look at a select set of thought provoking and inspirational problems and problem solving quotes related to decision making.

"The one common experience of all humanity is the challenge of problems." - R. Buckminster Fuller (1895 - 1983), American Architect, Author, Designer, Inventor, and Futurist

"Intellectuals solve problems; geniuses prevent them." - Albert Einstein (1879-1955), Physicist and Nobel Laureate

"The biggest problem in the world could have been solved when it was small." - Witter Bynner (1881 - 1968), American Poet and Author

"There is always an easy solution to every human problem - neat, plausible, and wrong." - H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956), American Journalist, Essayist, and Editor

"If a problem has no solution, it may not be a problem, but a fact - not to be solved, but to be coped with over time." - Shimon Peres (1923 - ), 9th President of the State of Israel

"Every problem has in it the seeds of its own solution. If you don't have any problems, you don't get any seeds." - Norman Vincent Peale (1898 - 1993), American Author

"Ideas may also grow out of the problem itself, which in turn becomes part of the solution." - Paul Rand (1914 - 1996), American Graphic Designer

"Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity." - Joseph Sugarman, American Author

"A problem clearly stated is a problem half solved." - Dorothea Brande (1893 - 1948), American Writer and Editor

"Problems are only opportunities in work clothes." - Henry J. Kaiser (1882 - 1967), American Industrialist, Father of Modern American Shipbuilding

"For every complex problem there is a solution that is concise, clear, simple, and wrong." - H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956), American Journalist, Essayist, and Editor

"Never bring the problem solving stage into the decision making stage. Otherwise, you surrender yourself to the problem rather than the solution." - Robert H. Schuller (1926 - ), 1926), American Minister and Author

"The significant problems we face today cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." - Albert Einstein (1879-1955), Physicist and Nobel Laureate

"If you procrastinate when faced with a big difficult problem... break the problem into parts, and handle one part at a time." - Robert Collier (1885 - 1950), American Author of Self Help Books

"I am enthusiastic over humanity's extraordinary and sometimes very timely ingenuities. If you are in a shipwreck and all the boats are gone, a piano top buoyant enough to keep you afloat may come along and make a fortuitous life preserver. This is not to say, though, that the best way to design a life preserver is in the form of a piano top. I think we are clinging to a great many piano tops in accepting yesterday's fortuitous contrivings as constituting the only means for solving a given problem." - R. Buckminster Fuller (1895 - 1983), American Architect, Author, Designer, Inventor, and Futurist

"When you can't solve the problem, manage it." - Robert H. Schuller (1926 - ), 1926), American Minister and Author

"No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking." - Voltaire (1694 - 1778), French Writer, Essayist, and Philosopher

"The only difference between a problem and a solution is that people understand the solution." - Dorothea Brande (1893 - 1948), American Writer and Editor

"Avoiding a problem doesn't solve it." - Bonnie Jean Thornley

"Science is always wrong, it never solves a problem without creating ten more." - George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950), Irish Playwright

"It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer." - Albert Einstein (1879-1955), Physicist and Nobel Laureate

"When a problem comes along, study it until you are completely knowledgeable. Then find that weak spot, break the problem apart, and the rest will be easy." - Norman Vincent Peale (1898 - 1993), American Author

"The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do." - B. F. Skinner (1904 - 1990), American Psychologist, Author, and Inventor

"Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced." - Soren Kierkegaard (1813 - 1855), Danish Philosopher and Theologian

"Problems can become opportunities when the right people come together." - Robert Redford (1936 - ), American Film Director and Actor

"We are continually faced by great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems." - Lee Iacocca (1924 - ),American businessman, President and CEO of Chrysler Corporation from 1978 to 1992

"The man who has no more problems to solve, is out of the game." - Elbert Hubbard (1856 - 1915), American Writer and Philosopher

"The human brain must continue to frame the problems for the electronic machine to solve." - David Sarnoff (1891 - 1971), Russian-American Businessman and Founder of the National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

"The how thinker gets problems solved effectively because he wastes no time with futile ifs." - Norman Vincent Peale (1898 - 1993), American Author

"Most people spend more time and energy going around problems than in trying to solve them." - Henry Ford (1863 - 1947), American Industrialist and Founder of the Ford Motor Company

"You are either part of the solution or part of the problem." - Eldridge Cleaver (1935 - 1998), American Author

"When I'm working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong." - R. Buckminster Fuller (1895 - 1983), American Architect, Author, Designer, Inventor, and Futurist

"Whatever creativity is, it is in part a solution to a problem." - Brian Aldiss (1925 - ), English Author

"Creativity can solve almost any problem. The creative act, the defeat of habit by originality, overcomes everything." - George Lois (1931 - ), American Art Director and Author

"Welcome every problem as an opportunity. Each moment is the great challenge, the best thing that ever happened to you . The more difficult the problem, the greater the challenge in working it out." - Grace Speare, Author

"There is a time in the life of every problem when it is big enough to see, yet small enough to solve." - Michael O. Leavitt (1951 - ), American Politician

"Think as you work, for in the final analysis, your worth to your company comes not only in solving problems, but also in anticipating them." - Harold Wallace Ross (1892 - 1951), American Journalist and Founder of The New Yorker Magazine

"To solve any problem, here are three questions to ask yourself: First, what could I do? Second, what could I read? And third, who could I ask?" - Jim Rohn (1930 - ), American Entrepreneur, Author, and Motivational Speaker

"The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by obvious realities. We need men and women who can dream of things that never were." - John F. Kennedy (1917 - 1963), 35th President of the United States

"We are built to conquer environment, solve problems, achieve goals, and we find no real satisfaction or happiness in life without obstacles to conquer and goals to achieve." - Maxwell Maltz (1899 - 1975), American Cosmetic Surgeon and Author

"No problem can be solved until it is reduced to some simple form. The changing of a vague difficulty into a specific, concrete form is a very essential element in thinking." - J. P. Morgan (1837 - 1913), American Financier and Banker

"Rather than denying problems, focus inventively, intentionally on what solutions might look or feel like. Our mind is meant to generate ideas that help us escape circumstantial traps -- if we trust it to do so. Naturally, not all hunches are useful. But then you only need a single good idea to solve a problem." - Marsha Sinetar, Educator and Author

"Each success only buys an admission ticket to a more difficult problem." - Henry Kissinger (1923 - ), German-born American Political Scientist, Diplomat, and Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize

"It doesn't matter how strong your opinions are. If you don't use your power for positive change, you are, indeed, part of the problem." - Coretta Scott King (1927 - 2006), American Author, Activist, and Civil Rights Leader

"Solve it. Solve it quickly, solve it right or wrong. If you solve it wrong, it will come back and slap you in the face, and then you can solve it right. Lying dead in the water and doing nothing is a comfortable alternative because it is without risk, but it is an absolutely fatal way to manage a business." - Thomas J. Watson (1874 - 1956), Industrialist, Former President of IBM

"If you do not ask the right questions, you do not get the right answers. A question asked in the right way often points to its own answer. Asking questions is the A-B-C of diagnosis. Only the inquiring mind solves problems." - Edward Hodnett (1871 - 1962), British Poet

"We only think when we are confronted with problems." - John Dewey (1859 - 1952), American Philosopher and Psychologist

"The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem." - Theodore I. Rubin (1923 - ), American Psychiatrist and Author

"Understand that most problems are a good sign. Problems indicate that progress is being made, wheels are turning, you are moving toward your goals. Beware when you have no problems. Then you've really got a problem. Problems are like landmarks of progress." - Scott Alexander (1976 - ), British Millionaire and Socialite

"Any solution to a problem changes the problem." - R. W. Johnson (1943 - ), South African Journalist and Historian

"A positive attitude will not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort." - Herm Albright

Return from More Problems and Problem Solving Quotes to the Decision Quotes page

• Decision Innovation
• [email protected]
• Decision-Making-Solutions Home
• Training and Development
• Back to Top

Sitemap | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us

©2009 - 2024 All rights reserved.

• Quotes About Death

21 Famous Quotes About Decision Making & Judgment

Updated 06/16/2022

Published 03/28/2021

Sherrie Johnson, BA in Liberal Studies

Contributing writer

Cake values integrity and transparency. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more in our affiliate disclosure .

Whether you make simple decisions like choosing an outfit or much harder decisions like a career, where to live, or what car to buy, you may make hundreds of decisions every day. 

Jump ahead to these sections:

Quotes about decision making and consequences, quotes about decision making in your career or business, quotes about decision making in love, funny quotes about decision making, quotes about poor decision making.

To help provide insight, wisdom, and a little levity, we found some of the best quotations about decision making for you to read.

All decisions will have consequences, whether good or bad. If you need help figuring out how to make a hard decision , maybe these quotes will give you the inspiration you need.

1. "We all make choices, but in the end, our choices make us." — Ken Levine

Ultimately, what we decide has the potential to shape our day, year, and even our destinies. 

2. "We are free to choose our paths, but we can't choose the consequences that come with them." — Sean Covey

Every decision will bring about some form of consequences. We can make our own choices but we should do so carefully.

3. "When you choose an action, you choose the consequences of that action. When you desire a consequence you had damned well better take the action that would create it." — Lois McMaster Bujold

Sometimes we can see the outcome of a decision before we make it. Make choices that produce outcomes you want.

4. "Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance." — C.S. Lewis

Even the smallest decisions in our daily lives can have vast importance. Make decisions each day you'll feel good about later.

5. “There are in nature neither rewards nor punishments — there are consequences.” — Robert G. Ingersoll

Consequences might end up good or bad, depending on the choices we make. If you want good consequences from your actions, choose to act wisely.

As with life, we make many decisions about our careers or businesses. These choices might seem especially difficult when they directly impact those who work for you. Read on to gather wisdom and insight for your decision-making journey.

6. "Make a living by doing what you enjoy, and you never have to work a day in your life." — Mark Twain

This saying has been placed on everything from motivational posters to high school notebooks. Find a job you love won't make work seem so much like “work.”

7. "The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers." — M. Scott Peck

If you’re ready for a change or you want to start something new, why not now? Ask yourself why you want a change, then go for it.

8. "Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning." — Gloria Steinem

What do you want to accomplish in your career or your business? Accomplishing it starts with making a plan. Making a plan starts with dreaming.

9. "The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward." — Amelia Earhart

Making the choice to change career paths, start a new business, or create a new product involves a feat all in itself. Sometimes you just have to make the choice to act, then great things will follow.

10. "Write your own book instead of reading someone else’s book about success." — Herb Brooks

Dream your own dreams, create your own accomplishments, and build a life that you love. Don't just read books about other people's successes. Write your own story.

Dating, getting married, knowing when to back out: Relationships can seem nerve-wracking and sometimes downright heartbreaking. Read through some thought-provoking quotes that just might help you make decisions, including quotes about reuniting .

11. "Leaving the person I love in danger and continuing to live on is the same as being dead." — Higuchi Tachibana

Naturally, you always want to make sure your loved ones feel safe, healthy, and well at all times. Sometimes that means making a hard decision to get loved ones the help they need — doing so always makes them feel better than leaving them in danger.

12. "Love is a decision, it is a judgment, it is a promise. If love were only a feeling, there would be no basis for the promise to love each other forever. A feeling comes and it may go. How can I judge that it will stay forever, when my act does not involve judgment and decision?" — Erich Fromm

We can make the decision to love when we’re feeling good and life is great just as much as we can choose to love when life has gotten us down. 

13. "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." — Lao Tzu

Being loved gives you the ability to do great things in life. Love, while sometimes scary, gives you the courage to put your heart on the line and share your life with someone else.

14. "'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." — Alfred Lord Tennyson

This famous quote always rings true. It is better to have given your heart to someone who loved you in return than to have never loved at all. 

15. "You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." — Dr. Seuss

Wondering whether you should stay in a relationship? Consider this quote. Give it some time and you’ll know whether you want to stay in it or whether you should start searching for ways to say goodbye .

Tap into a few quotes to make you smile while in the throes of decision-making.

16. "You can only be young once, but you can always be immature" — Dave Barry

Leave it to Dave Barry to make you grin.

17. "The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem. Do you understand?" — Jack Sparrow

Wondering what to do when you don’t know what to do ? Consider this quote. Decision-making can feel frustrating, disheartening, and downright discouraging sometimes. Keep smiling, cheer up, and simply do your best with the decisions you have to make.

18. "In my house, I’m the boss, my wife is just the decision-maker." — Woody Allen

Comedian Woody Allen knows who actually makes the decisions. Does this sound familiar in your household?

19. "Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right." — Henry Ford

If you think you can’t do something, you probably won’t. But if you think you can, you’ll at least try, and trying (and not quitting) can really make things happen. You might even amaze yourself!

Sometimes you make a decision you wish you hadn’t. Making good choices and avoiding poor decisions goes back to considering the choices you make.

20. "If, before every action, we were to begin by weighing up the consequences, thinking about them in earnest, first the immediate consequences, then the probable, then the possible, then the imaginable ones, we should never move beyond the point where our first thought brought us to a halt." — Jose Saramago

Think about the end results of the choices you make well before you make them. When you foresee the result of a decision, you avoid those that might cause disaster.

21. "Choices made, whether bad or good, follow you forever and affect everyone in their path one way or another." — J.E.B. Spredemann

Simply thinking about this quote might make you pause before you make an important decision. Decisions impact everyone around us, so make sure your decisions help yourself and others.

Decide Wisely

Decisions come to us in all shapes and sizes, from simple questions to those that shape our lives. Approach the decision-making process with thoughtfulness so you can walk confidently forward after you make your final decision. 

Categories:

• Relationships

You may also like

55+ Famous Quotes About Self-Reflection

80+ Life Questions to Ask Yourself to Find Out Who You Are

80+ Short, Comforting Quotes to Share During Hard Times

How to Make an Impossible Decision (With Examples)

wisdom quotes trending all quotes

100 Decision Quotes For Better Decision-Making (And Life)

By Maxime Lagacé

Maxime is the founder of WisdomQuotes. He has been collecting quotes since 2004. His goal? To help you develop a calm and peaceful mind. Learn more about him on his about page .

You make 35,000 decisions each day.

But what if you became 10% better at making them?

What about 25%?

Here are 100 of the best decision quotes I could find .

What’s my goal?

To help you make better decisions and ultimately improve your life.

You’ll discover authors like Jordan Peterson, Maya Angelou, Tony Robbins, and many more.

The most important decision you make is to be in a good mood. Voltaire

The quality of your life ultimately depends on quality of your decisions. Ray Dalio ( Source )

It’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever. Gary Goodridge ( Source )

The worst decision of all is none. Jordan Peterson

Your legacy is being written by yourself. Make the right decisions. Gary Vaynerchuk

Better decisions follow better judgment. Better judgments follow long-term vision. Maxime Lagacé

You are only one defining decision away from a totally different life. Mark Batterson

Decision is the ultimate power. Decisions shape destiny. Tony Robbins

Don’t mourn over your bad decisions. Just start overcoming them with good ones. Joyce Meyer

The best decisions aren’t made with your mind, but with your instinct. Lionel Messi

Indecision is eventually a decision. Angela Jiang ( Source )

The best math you can learn is how to calculate the future cost of current decisions. Wesley Snipes ( Source )

What you are not changing, you are choosing. Unknown

Wisdom starts when you no longer need short-term rewards. Maxime Lagacé

Hard choices, easy life. Easy choices, hard life. Jerzy Gregorek

• 87 Deep Quotes That Will Make You Think
• 73 Life Is Short Quotes To Help You Live To The Fullest
• 100 Simplicity Quotes For More Simplicity In Your Life

More Great Quotes About Decisions

One day, or day one, you decide. Unknown

Every decision you make reflects your evaluation of who you are. Marianne Williamson

Effective decision-making can be seen as an optimal link between memory of the past, ground-realities of the present and insights of the future . Amit Ray

Two things determine how your life will turn out: luck and the quality of your decisions. Annie Duke ( Source )

Where you are going to spend your time and your energy is one of the most important decisions you get to make in life. Jeff Bezos

Some people make bad choices, but that doesn’t make them bad people. Gary Goodridge

A happy, calm, and peaceful person will make better decisions. Naval Ravikant

More is lost by indecision than wrong decision. Cicero

Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach. Tony Robbins

Decisions are nothing without execution. Shane Parrish ( Source )

Most people are either good at thinking with a 10 year time horizon or operating with the urgency of a 10 day time horizon. Extremely powerful if you can do both. Sam Altman

Ask yourself at every moment: is this necessary? Marcus Aurelius

You are the manifestation of every decision you’ve ever made. A decision today determines who you are tomorrow. Matthew Kobach

Don’t outsource your happiness or success to other people’s decisions. Naval Ravikant

A good decision starts with short-term pain and ends with long-term benefits. Maxime Lagacé

When making any major life decision, remember: If it’s not a “Fuck Yes;” then it’s a “No.” Mark Manson

Spend more time making the big decisions. Naval Ravikant

There are basically three really big decisions you make in your early life: where you live, who you’re with, and what you’re doing. Naval Ravikant

The single most important decision you make is where you live. It drives your business opportunities, relationships, food and water supply, politics, activities, and day-to-day quality of life. Naval Ravikant

A good rule of thumb: if a decision is not permanent, it’s better to move too fast. If a decision is permanent, it’s better to move too slow. Mark Manson ( Source )

You can tell how good someone is at making decisions by how much time they have. Busy people spend a lot of time correcting poor decisions, so they don’t have time to make good decisions. Good decisions need good thinking, and that requires time. Shane Parrish

Your biography is not your destiny, your decisions are. Tony Robbins

If you don’t say yes in the first 5 minutes, say no. Shane Parrish

Don’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy. Autumn Wilson

All decisions are bets. Annie Duke ( Thinking In Bets , Amazon book)

Every choice you make is a step toward or away from the person you want to become. No single choice will get you where you want to go. Only repeated steps over time in the same direction will move you forward. Shane Parrish

A simple heuristic to ask yourself: Is this choice going to make the future easier or harder? Shane Parrish

The easy choice in the moment almost always makes the future harder. The hard choice almost always makes the future easier. Shane Parrish ( Source )

A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken a new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided. Tony Robbins

At the start of a decision, intuition is unreliable. The patterns you’ve detected in the past might not apply to the present. After you’ve weighed the decision, intuition becomes useful. It adds valuable information that your analysis might have missed. Adam Grant ( Source )

Never fall in love with your hypothesis. Peter Medawar

It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories instead of theories to suit facts. Arthur Conan Doyle

A simple question to run your daily decisions through: Will this cost me time in the future or save me time in the future? James Clear

Systemize your decision making. Ray Dalio (wikipedia.org)

Raising the probability of being right is valuable no matter what your probability of being right already is. Ray Dalio

If you’re good at course correcting, being wrong may be less costly than you think. Jeff Bezos (Amazon)

Think of every decision as a bet with a probability and a reward for being right and a probability and a penalty for being wrong. Ray Dalio

The two biggest barriers to good decision making are your ego and your blind spots. Together, they make it difficult for you to objectively see what is true about you and your circumstances and to make the best possible decisions by getting the most out of others. Ray Dalio

Most people make bad decisions because they are so certain that they’re right. Radically open-minded people know that coming up with the right questions and asking other smart people what they think is as important as having all the answers. Ray Dalio

Sincerely believe that you might not know the best possible path and recognize that your ability to deal well with “not knowing” is more important than whatever it is you do know. Ray Dalio

It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped. Tony Robbins

Science is about observables; decisions, risk, life, profits and wisdom are about unobservables. Nassim Nicholas Taleb ( Source )

If you want to make the wrong decision, ask everyone. Naval Ravikant ( Source )

Good decision making has surprisingly little to do with the moment of decision. At that point, it’s too late. Your brain makes choices rapidly and automatically based on experience. Good decision making is determined by what you have learned before the moment of decision. James Clear

The more reversible decisions you make, the fewer perfect decisions you need. James Clear

Authenticity is more than speaking. Authenticity is also about doing. Every decision we make says something about who we are. Simon Sinek

Most of us live our lives by accident – we live as it happens. Fulfillment comes when we live our lives on purpose. Simon Sinek

Often the best decisions have no immediate payoff. The best choices tend to compound. Most of the benefits come at the end, not the beginning. The more patient you are, the bigger the payoff. Shane Parrish

You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them. Maya Angelou

There are always two choices. Two paths to take. One is easy. And it’s only reward is that it’s easy. Unknown

Good decisions come from experience, and experience comes from bad decisions. Unknown

The most difficult thing is the decision to act! Amelia Earhart

Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision. Peter F. Drucker

The thing that cowardice fears most is decision. Søren Kierkegaard

You and only you are responsible for your life choices and decisions. Robert T. Kiyosaki

You cannot make progress without making decisions. Jim Rohn

Amateurs make decisions in committees so there is no one person responsible if things go wrong. Professionals make decisions as individuals and accept responsibility. Shane Parrish

Hard decisions become harder, not easier, with time. Waiting creates its own inertia. The longer you wait the harder it gets. The sooner you act, the higher the returns. Shane Parrish

Related : How to Make Smart Decisions Without Getting Lucky (fs.blog)

Reversible decisions should be made as soon as possible. Irreversible decisions should be made as late as possible. Shane Parrish

The quality of a single decision isn’t determined by the outcome. However, the aggregation of results over time indicates the quality of the process by which you make decisions. Shane

Good decision makers understand a simple truth: you can’t make good decisions without good thinking and good thinking requires time to think. If you want to think better, schedule time to think. Shane Parrish

When considering options, watch your heart rate. Shane Parrish

Look for win-win decisions. If someone absolutely has to lose, you’re likely not thinking hard enough or you need to make structural/environmental changes. Shane Parrish

Avoid things the best version of yourself will regret. Shane Parrish

Focus on collecting feedback to calibrate your ability to make this decision. Shane Parrish

A good life is the fruit of a succession of good decisions. Alain de Botton

Related : How to make a decision (6-minute YouTube video by The School Of Life)

The rule of 5. Think about what the decision looks like 5 days, 5 weeks, 5 months, 5 years, 5 decades. Shane Parrish ( Source )

Too much information increases confidence not accuracy. Shane Parrish

Avoiding stupidity is easier than seeking brilliance. Shane Parrish

Sleepless nights get a bad rap. Some of the most important decisions or realizations come from nights when you can’t sleep. Jack Altman

Whenever I spend time with someone who is quick to make decisions, iterate, and digest feedback, I assume they will eventually be very successful. Jack Altman

Good decisions are made by groups, great decisions are made by individuals. When risk mitigation is the key, committees work well. When upside creation is the goal, the smaller the circle the better. Jack Altman

The chief enemy of good decisions is a lack of sufficient perspectives on a problem. Alain de Botton

Because you want life easy, it becomes hard. Maxime Lagacé

If all things are equal take the road less travelled. Shane Parrish

Key Takeaways

• Want a better life? Learn to make better decisions .
• Think long-term
• Schedule time to think
• Write (clear writing involves clear thinking)
• You can change your destiny by changing your decisions, even the tiniest.
• Having regrets over bad decisions is useless. Learn to move forward quickly.
• An easy way to avoid bad decisions? Avoid short-term rewards.

Further Readings (For Wisdom And Life Lessons)

• Topic: Life
• 100 Life Quotes To Transform Your Life Today
• 91 Of The Best Stoic Quotes (For A Better Life)
• 115 Philosophy Quotes From The Best Philosophers
• 78 Conscience Quotes To Improve Your Inner World
• 89 Time Quotes (Profound, Important, Inspiring)
• 155 Freedom Quotes To Inspire Liberty And Independence
• 77 Life Lessons Quotes (To Learn And Grow)
• 21 Life-Changing Questions To Ask Yourself Today
• 73 Life Tips To Live Your Best Life
• Simple Living: 30 Ways To Simplify Your Life

Hope you enjoyed these decision quotes! If you did, please share them with a friend today!

Do you have a hard time deciding? What’s your favorite decision quote? And remember: words can transform your life, if you find the right ones.

Was this helpful?

"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom." -Aristotle

Copyright © 2004-2024

70 inspirational decision-making quotes

Famous and inspirational decision quotes to help you make the right choices.

Life is determined by the decisions we make. With so many options available to us, making decisions can sometimes feel daunting or confusing. If you have found yourself wondering lately, “what is the right decision?”, you might be in need of some inspiration from the experts.

At 1000minds, we help people make better decisions every day with our industry-leading decision-making software . We know from experience that often the best decision is not to decide alone. To encourage and guide your thinking, we compiled a list of the most powerful quotes about decisions from humankind’s brightest minds.

So without further ado - we encourage you to go through our list of the best decision-making quotes and arm yourself with the wisdom of centuries to conquer your challenges!

Inspirational quotes on decisions

• “Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide.” – Napoleon Bonaparte Copy
• “When making a decision of minor importance, I have always found it advantageous to consider all the pros and cons.” – Sigmund Freud Copy
• “Sometimes you make the right decision, sometimes you make the decision right.” – Phil McGraw Copy
• “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” – Maya Angelou Copy
• “Decision is a sharp knife that cuts clean and straight; indecision, a dull one that hacks and tears and leaves ragged edges behind it.” – Gordon Graham Copy
• “Every decision you make reflects your evaluation of who you are.” – Marianne Williamson Copy
• “Decision making is easy when your values are clear.” – Roy Disney Copy
• “Some of our important choices have a time line. If we delay a decision, the opportunity is gone forever. Sometimes our doubts keep us from making a choice that involves change. Thus an opportunity may be missed.” – James E. Faust Copy
• “Life is about choices. Some we regret, some we’re proud of. Some will haunt us forever. The message: we are what we chose to be.” – Graham Brown Copy
• “We may think that our decisions are guided purely by logic and rationality, but our emotions always play a role in our good decision making process.” – Salma Stockdale Copy
• “Truly successful decision-making relies on a balance between deliberate and instinctive thinking.” – Malcolm Gladwell Copy
• “You and I need to be the decision makers in our own lives and careers. It is also our responsibility to allow and encourage others to do the same.” – Jay Rifenbary Copy
• “The quality of your life is built on the quality of your decisions.” – Wesam Fawzi Copy
• “Visionary decision-making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic.” – Paul O’Brien Copy
• “We are our decisions.” – Prof.Salam Al Shereida Copy
• “Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.” – Paul Tillich Copy
• “Decision making is the specific executive task.” – Peter Drucker Copy

Decision quotes for motivation

• “May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” – Nelson Mandela Copy
• “All of us start from zero. We take the right decision and become a hero.” – Govinda Copy
• “Sometimes in life, you have to make a selfish decision and do what’s best for you.” – Saquon Barkley Copy
• “You cannot make progress without making decisions.” – Jim Rohn Copy
• “There’s no wrong time to make the right decision.” – Dalton McGuinty Copy
• “Every decision brings with it some good, some bad, some lessons, and some luck. The only thing that’s for sure is that indecision steals many years from many people who wind up wishing they’d just had the courage to leap.” – Doe Zantamata Copy
• “Life is filled with difficult decisions, and winners are those who make them.” – Dan Brown Copy
• “Shelving hard decisions is the least ethical course.” – Adrian Cadbury Copy
• “Your legacy is being written by yourself. Make the right decisions.” – Gary Vaynerchuk Copy
• “Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever.” – Keri Russell Copy
• “Not making a decision means forgoing an opportunity.” – Auliq Ice Copy
• “Decision making is power. Most people don’t have the guts to make ‘tough decision’ because they want to make the ‘right decision’ and so they make ‘no decision’. Remember, live is short, so do things that matter the most and have the courage to make ‘tough decision’ and to chase your dreams.” – Yama Mubtakeraker Copy
• “You are only one decision from a totally different life.” – Wilfred A. Peterson Copy

What is a good decision?

• “A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers.” – Plato Copy
• “There are times when delaying a decision has benefit. Often, allowing a set period of time to mull something over so your brain can work it through generates a thoughtful and effective decision.” – Nancy Morris Copy
• “The best decisions aren’t made with your mind, but with your Instinct.” – Lionel Messi Copy
• “A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken a new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided.” – Anthony Robbins Copy
• “A decision made from fear is always the wrong decision.” – Tony Robbins Copy
• “A decision clouded with doubt is never a good decision.” – Steven Aitchison Copy
• “It is often said that a wrong decision taken at the right time is better than a right decision taken at the wrong time.” – Pearl Zhu Copy

Making the right decision quotes

• “You can’t make decisions based on fear and the possibility of what might happen.” – Michelle Obama Copy
• “The art of decision making includes the art of questioning.” – Pearl Zhu Copy
• “When faced with a decision, choose the path that feeds your soul.” – Dorothy Mendoza Row Copy
• “Be open about your thoughts, ideas, and desires and you will be right with your decisions.” – Auliq Ice Copy
• “Never make a decision when you are upset, sad, jealous or in love.” – Mario Teguh Copy
• “Think 100 times before you take a decision, but once that decision is taken, stand by it as one man.” – Muhammad Ali Jinnah Copy
• “Whenever you’re making an important decision, first ask if it gets you closer to your goals or farther away. If the answer is closer, pull the trigger. If it’s farther away, make a different choice. Conscious choice making is a critical step in making your dreams a reality.” – Jillian Michaels Copy
• “Always make decisions that prioritize your inner peace.” – Izey Victoria Odiase Copy
• “The goal shouldn’t be to make the perfect decision every time but to make less bad decisions than everyone else.” – Spencer Fraseur Copy
• “Don’t mourn over your bad decisions. Just start overcoming them with good ones.” – Joyce Meyer Copy
• “Don’t let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.” – Colin Powell Copy
• “If you have a decision to make, list down the pain points of doing it and the pleasures of doing it.” – Romuald Andrade Copy
• “Great decision-making comes from the ability to create the time and space to think rationally and intelligently about the issue at hand.” – Graham Allcot Copy
• “The only way to make the right decision is to find out which is the wrong decision, to examine that other path without fear, and only then decide.” – Paulo Coelho Copy
• “Poor decision making I think, is the number one cause for most of our mistakes. So to make fewer mistakes means to make better decisions, and to make better decisions you must train yourself to think more clearly.” – Rashard Royster Copy
• “It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong.” – Thomas Sowell Copy
• “Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach.” – Tony Robbins Copy
• “Poor decision making will almost always lead to less than desirable outcomes.” – Matt Fox Copy
• “When possible make the decisions now, even if action is in the future. A revised decision usually is better than one reached at the last moment.” – William B. Given Copy

Future effects of decisions

• “Choices are the hinges of destiny.” – Pythagoras Copy
• “Life is a chess match. Every decision that you make has a consequence to it.” – P.K. Subban Copy
• “Life presents many choices, the choices we make determine our future.” – Catherine Pulsifer Copy
• “It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.” – Tony Robbins Copy
• “The future is fluid. Each act, each decision, and each development creates new possibilities and eliminates others. The future is ours to direct.” – Jacque Fresco Copy
• “Our lives will depend upon the decisions which we make, for decisions determine destiny.” – Thomas S. Monson Copy
• “Your biography is not your destiny, your decisions are.” – Tony Robbins Copy
• “Your life changes the moment you make a new, congruent, and committed decision.” – Tony Robbins Copy
• “Success or failure depend on the decisions you make and the path you choose. You are responsible for your future.” – Remez Sasson Copy

Decision quotes about business

• “Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.” – Peter F Drucker Copy
• “Make decisions with the long term in mind. If you were truly the owner of your company and the success or failure of your business hinged on the performance of your team, you would dedicate yourself to constant improvement.” – David Miller Copy
• “Business today is about making decisions amid ambiguity.” – Geraldine Laybourne Copy
• “The worst business decision you can make is no decision. The needs are not going to go away. Waiting is what’s gotten us in the situation we’re in now.” – John Peace Copy
• “Great leaders don’t lead others with bitterness or resentfulness of past mistakes, they lead with hope and knowledge of the past to inform greater decision making in the future.” – Spencer Fraseur Copy

Ready to conquer your next decision?

1000minds helps organizations around the globe make better decisions using state-of-the-art methods and technology. Learn more about how 1000minds can help you improve decision-making processes at your organization.

Curious about how 1000minds works? Sign up for our free trial or book a call with our friendly team today.

Learn more about our cookies Accept cookies

Quotes about Problem-Solving

Search resources.

“ A problem is a chance for you to do your best.” --Duke Ellington

“We can not solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them.” -- Albert Einstein

“A problem well stated is a problem half solved.” -- John Dewey

“A sum can be put right : but only by going back till you find the error and working it afresh from that point, never by simply going on.” -- C. S. Lewis ,  The Great Divorce

“If your only tool is a hammer then every problem looks like a nail.” --  Abraham Maslow 

Too often we give our children answers to remember rather than problems to solve. -- Roger Lewin

There's no use talking about the problem unless you talk about the solution. -- Betty Williams

© 2018 Great Expectations

Decision Making And Problem Solving Quotes

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. – Albert Einstein

Be selective in your battles, don’t make every problem a war. – Anonymous

A problem is a chance for you to do your best. – Duke Ellington

Stay away from negative people. They have a problem for every solution. – Anonymous

Never reply when you’re angry. Never make a promise when you’re happy. Never make a decision when you’re sad. – Anonymous

Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever. – Keri Russell

To ask the right question is already half the solution to a problem. – C.G. Jung

We all have problems, but let’s not kid ourselves: it’s how we deal with them that makes the difference. – Jonathan Harnisch

Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try. – John F. Kennedy

Never make permanent decisions on temporary feelings. – Unknown

You’re either part of the solution or you’re part of the problem. – Eldridge Cleaver

I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions. – Stephen R. Covey

Don’t base your decisions on the advice of those who won’t have to deal with the results. – Anonymous

It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer. – Albert Einstein

Don’t let someone else control what you do in life. It’s your decisions, your outcomes, your life. – Anonymous

There are three solutions to every problem: accept it, change it, or leave it. – Unknown

We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes – understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success. – Arianna Huffington

When you find no solution to a problem, it’s probably not a problem to be solved, but rather a truth to be accepted. – Anonymous

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

How to Make Great Decisions, Quickly

• Martin G. Moore

It’s a skill that will set you apart.

As a new leader, learning to make good decisions without hesitation and procrastination is a capability that can set you apart from your peers. While others vacillate on tricky choices, your team could be hitting deadlines and producing the type of results that deliver true value. That’s something that will get you — and them — noticed. Here are a few of a great decision:

• Great decisions are shaped by consideration of many different viewpoints. This doesn’t mean you should seek out everyone’s opinion. The right people with the relevant expertise need to clearly articulate their views to help you broaden your perspective and make the best choice.
• Great decisions are made as close as possible to the action. Remember that the most powerful people at your company are rarely on the ground doing the hands-on work. Seek input and guidance from team members who are closest to the action.
• Great decisions address the root cause, not just the symptoms. Although you may need to urgently address the symptoms, once this is done you should always develop a plan to fix the root cause, or else the problem is likely to repeat itself.
• Great decisions balance short-term and long-term value. Finding the right balance between short-term and long-term risks and considerations is key to unlocking true value.
• Great decisions are timely. If you consider all of the elements listed above, then it’s simply a matter of addressing each one with a heightened sense of urgency.

Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here .

Like many young leaders, early in my career, I thought a great decision was one that attracted widespread approval. When my colleagues smiled and nodded their collective heads, it reinforced (in my mind, at least) that I was an excellent decision maker.

• MM Martin G. Moore is the founder of Your CEO Mentor and author of No Bullsh!t Leadership and host of the No Bullsh!t Leadership podcast. His purpose is to improve the quality of leaders globally through practical, real world leadership content. For more information, please visit, www.martingmoore.com.

Partner Center

Problem Solving: 40 Useful Performance Feedback Phrases

Problem Solving: Use these sample phrases to craft meaningful performance evaluations, drive change and motivate your workforce.

Problem Solving is the skill of defining a problem to determine its cause, identify it, prioritize and select alternative solutions to implement in solving the problems and reviving relationships.

Problem Solving: Exceeds Expectations Phrases

• Actively listens when others are talking and seek clarification on issues not well understood.
• Seeks to brainstorm on problems to try to find the right solutions.
• Evaluates all possible solutions and chooses the one that will deliver the best results.
• Knows how well to collaborate with others to find solutions to problems.
• Knows how to resolve any outstanding client issues and problems amicably.
• Communicates views and thoughts in a very distinct and understandable manner.
• Is decisive when it comes to making decisions and sticks by the decisions made.
• Gathers all the necessary facts and information first before making any decision.
• Monitors all outcomes of all actions undertaken to take full responsibility for any problem.
• Breaks a problem down before starting to analyze it in a more detailed manner.

Problem Solving: Meets Expectations Phrases

• Is always open-minded and readily accepts what others have to contribute.
• Has an inquisitive nature and tries to analyze all that is happening around.
• Always asks the right questions and raises any relevant issue when necessary.
• Keeps things calm even when required to make quick decisions under high pressure.
• Communicates or articulates issues in an obvious and concise way that people can easily understand.
• Shows strong level-headedness when assessing situations and coming up with solutions.
• Tries to be accommodative of other people's views and accepts them easily.
• Always portrays enough knowledge of the problem and its feasible solutions.
• Shows the willingness to change tact whenever the conditions change.
• Creates opportunities to evaluate and implement the decisions that are arrived at properly.

Problem Solving: Needs Improvement Phrases

• Not willing to be accommodative of other people's ideas and opinions.
• Does not know how to present a problem in ways that people can understand.
• Finds it difficult to articulate issues in a clear and understandable manner.
• Not decisive and assertive when it comes to coming up with solutions.
• Does not take the time to listen keenly to what others have to say or contribute.
• Always in a hurry to make decisions and does not think things through.
• Does not always monitor the decisions made to ensure that they have a positive impact.
• When faced with a high-pressure problem, does not maintain a cool head to be able to solve it properly.
• Not willing to collaborate with other people to come up with solutions to problems.
• Does not manage client-related issues in a professional manner and customers are left unsatisfied.

Problem Solving: Self Evaluation Questions

• How well do you solve issues and are you confident in your abilities?
• Give an instance you solved a problem, and it was successful.
• Give a situation that you solved a problem, and it was unsuccessful.
• How well do you accommodate other people ideas and opinions when trying to solve a problem?
• How do you manage high-pressure situations that require fast and urgent attention?
• Do you involve other people when trying to solve any particular problem?
• How well do you brainstorm before setting out to solve a problem?
• Do you research well enough to get proper facts and information?
• Are you in most cases conversant with what the problem is before you solve it?
• How well are you keen on everything that is happening around you?

These articles may interest you

Recent articles.

• Employee Performance Goals Sample: Weather Analyst
• Outstanding Employee Performance Feedback: Director of Social Services
• Outstanding Employee Performance Feedback: Senior Cytogenetic Technologist
• Poor Employee Performance Feedback: Chief Meteorologist
• Employee Performance Goals Sample: Concrete Foreman
• Smart Employee Performance Evaluation Phrases For Managers
• Poor Employee Performance Feedback: Counseling Services Director
• Employee Performance Goals Sample: Engineering Director
• Outstanding Employee Performance Feedback: Customs Compliance Auditor
• Employee Performance Goals Sample: Research Greenhouse Supervisor
• Employee Performance Goals Sample: Operations Clerk
• Planning and Scheduling: 15 Examples for Setting Performance Goals
• Sample Employee Recognition Award Letter
• Good Employee Performance Feedback: Data Infrastructure/Visualization Specialist
• Employee Performance Goals Sample: Auxiliary Engineer

How it works

Transform your enterprise with the scalable mindsets, skills, & behavior change that drive performance.

Explore how BetterUp connects to your core business systems.

We pair AI with the latest in human-centered coaching to drive powerful, lasting learning and behavior change.

Build leaders that accelerate team performance and engagement.

Unlock performance potential at scale with AI-powered curated growth journeys.

Build resilience, well-being and agility to drive performance across your entire enterprise.

Transform your business, starting with your sales leaders.

Unlock business impact from the top with executive coaching.

Foster a culture of inclusion and belonging.

Accelerate the performance and potential of your agencies and employees.

See how innovative organizations use BetterUp to build a thriving workforce.

Discover how BetterUp measurably impacts key business outcomes for organizations like yours.

A demo is the first step to transforming your business. Meet with us to develop a plan for attaining your goals.

• What is coaching?

Learn how 1:1 coaching works, who its for, and if it's right for you.

Accelerate your personal and professional growth with the expert guidance of a BetterUp Coach.

Types of Coaching

Navigate career transitions, accelerate your professional growth, and achieve your career goals with expert coaching.

Enhance your communication skills for better personal and professional relationships, with tailored coaching that focuses on your needs.

Find balance, resilience, and well-being in all areas of your life with holistic coaching designed to empower you.

Discover your perfect match : Take our 5-minute assessment and let us pair you with one of our top Coaches tailored just for you.

Research, expert insights, and resources to develop courageous leaders within your organization.

Best practices, research, and tools to fuel individual and business growth.

View on-demand BetterUp events and learn about upcoming live discussions.

The latest insights and ideas for building a high-performing workplace.

• BetterUp Briefing

The online magazine that helps you understand tomorrow's workforce trends, today.

Innovative research featured in peer-reviewed journals, press, and more.

Founded in 2022 to deepen the understanding of the intersection of well-being, purpose, and performance

We're on a mission to help everyone live with clarity, purpose, and passion.

Join us and create impactful change.

Read the buzz about BetterUp.

Meet the leadership that's passionate about empowering your workforce.

For Business

For Individuals

31 examples of problem solving performance review phrases

Jump to section

You're doing great

You should think of improving

Tips to improve

Use these practical examples of phrases, sample comments, and templates for your performance review , 360-degree feedback survey, or manager appraisal.

The following examples not only relate to problem-solving but also conflict management , effective solutions, selecting the best alternatives, decision making , problem identification, analyzing effectively, and generally becoming an effective problem-solving strategist. Start using effective performance review questions to help better guide your workforce's development. 

Problem solving appraisal comments: you're doing great

• You always maintain an effective dialogue with clients when they have technical problems. Being clear and articulate makes sure our customers' faults are attended to promptly.
• You constantly make sure to look beyond the obvious you never stop at the first answer. You’re really good at exploring alternatives. Well done!
• Keeping the supervisors and managers informed of status changes and requests is important. You’re really good at communicating the changes to the projects at all times. Keep it up!
• You stay cool and collected even when things aren’t going according to plan or up in the air. This is a great trait to possess. Well done!
• You’re excellent at giving an honest and logical analysis. Keep it up! Effectively diagnosing complex problems and reaching sustainable solutions is one of your strong points.
• Your ability to ability to make complex systems into simple ones is truly a unique skill to possess. Well done!
• You often identify practical solutions to every roadblock. You’re a real asset to the team! Great job.
• You always listen actively and attentively to make sure you understand what the exact problem is and you come up with solutions in an effective manner.
• You have an amazing ability to clearly explain options and solutions effectively and efficiently. Well done!
• When driving projects, you can shift to other areas comfortably and easily. making sure the project runs smoothly. Great job!

Problem solving performance review phrases: you should think of improving

• You always seem too overwhelmed when faced with multiple problems. Try to think of ways to make problems more manageable so that they can be solved in a timely and effective manner.
• Avoiding conflicts constantly with people is not a good idea as you will only build up personal frustration and nothing will be done to remedy the situation. Try to face people when there are problems and rectify problems when they occur.
• Don’t allow demanding customers to rattle your cage too much. If they become too demanding, take a step back, regulate your emotions , and try to make use of online support tools to help you rectify problems these tools can help a lot!
• It’s necessary that you learn from your past mistakes . You cannot keep making the same mistakes , as this is not beneficial to the company.
• You tend to ask the same questions over and over again. Try to listen more attentively or take notes when colleagues are answering!
• Providing multiple solutions in an indirect and creative approach will allow you to be more effective at problem-solving . if you struggle with this typically through viewing the problem in a new and unusual light.
• You fail to provide staff with the appropriate amount of structure and direction. They must know the direction you wish them to go in to achieve their goals .
• You need to be able to recognize repetitive trends to solve problems promptly.
• You tend to have problems troubleshooting even the most basic of questions. As a problem solver and customer support person, it’s imperative that you can answer these questions easily.
• Read through your training manual and make sure you fully understand it before attempting questions again.

Performance review tips to improve problem solving

• Try to complain less about problems and come up with solutions to the problems more often. Complaining is not beneficial to progression and innovation.
• As a problem solver, it’s important to be able to handle multiple priorities under short deadlines.
• You need to be able to effectively distinguish between the cause and the symptoms of problems to solve them in an efficient and timely manner.
• Try to anticipate problems in advance before they become major roadblocks down the road.
• Try to view obstacles as opportunities to learn and thrive at the challenge of solving the problem.
• Remember to prioritize problems according to their degree of urgency. It's important that you spend the majority of your time on urgent tasks over menial ones.
• When putting plans into place, stick to them and make sure they are completed.
• When solving problems, try to allocate appropriate levels of resources when undertaking new projects. It is important to become as efficient and as effective as possible.
• Try to learn to pace yourself when solving problems to avoid burnout . You’re a great asset to the team and we cannot afford to lose at this point.
• Meeting regularly with your staff to review results is vital to the problem-solving process.
• Staff that has regular check-ins understand what it is that is required of them, what they are currently achieving, and areas they may need to improve. Try to hold one-on-one meetings every week.

Lead with confidence and authenticity

Develop your leadership and strategic management skills with the help of an expert Coach.

Madeline Miles

Madeline is a writer, communicator, and storyteller who is passionate about using words to help drive positive change. She holds a bachelor's in English Creative Writing and Communication Studies and lives in Denver, Colorado. In her spare time, she's usually somewhere outside (preferably in the mountains) — and enjoys poetry and fiction.

How a performance review template improves the feedback process

25 performance review questions (and how to use them), agile performance management: how to improve an agile team, 5 tactics for managing managers effectively — and why it matters, how stanford executive education embraces vulnerability as a form of resilience, managers have a strong effect on team performance, for better or worse, awakening human potential: developing people and driving performance in the new world of work, uk leaders develop future-minded skills with betterup, how to manage poor performance in 5 steps, similar articles, 10 problem-solving strategies to turn challenges on their head, teamwork skills self-appraisal comments: 40 example phrases, your complete guide to self-assessments (with examples), 30 communication feedback examples, 30 customer service review examples to develop your team, 15 tips for your end-of-year reviews, 37 innovation and creativity appraisal comments, 8 creative solutions to your most challenging problems, 10 performance review tips to drastically move the needle, stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

3100 E 5th Street, Suite 350 Austin, TX 78702

• Platform Overview
• Integrations
• Powered by AI
• BetterUp Lead
• BetterUp Manage™
• BetterUp Care™
• Sales Performance
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Case Studies
• Why BetterUp?
• About Coaching
• Find your Coach
• Career Coaching
• Communication Coaching
• Life Coaching
• News and Press
• Leadership Team
• Become a BetterUp Coach
• BetterUp Labs
• Center for Purpose & Performance
• Leadership Training
• Business Coaching
• Contact Support
• Contact Sales
• Privacy Policy
• Acceptable Use Policy
• Trust & Security
• Cookie Preferences

Decision-Making

Decision-making snags and successes, to overcome stumbling blocks, it is important to be confident of your plan..

Updated April 14, 2024 | Reviewed by Jessica Schrader

• Four personal factors can be stumbling blocks to success.
• Stumbling blocks can thwart success.
• There are ways to overcome stumbling blocks.

There was a positive ring in the Journal of Adolescence noting that “by the age of 15 many adolescents show a reliable level of competence in metacognitive understanding of decision-making , creative problem solving, correctness of choice, and commitment to a course of action” (Mann et. al., 1989).

If we embraced that research more than 30 years ago, we might have assumed that when these young people became adults, society would have a group of capable decision-makers. We might have expected that by 2024 they would be making decisions that were beneficial for themselves, families, friends, and even the country. While it seemed encouraging on paper, many outside factors—from family dynamics to politics —interfered with that prediction.

How to overcome stumbling blocks to successful decisions

In today’s environment, rational decision-making can be a challenge. Decision-making is about having the courage of one’s convictions, not necessarily about others agreeing with you. When you propose a plan or decision and someone says, “I don’t agree with you," what might you do?

Regardless of the situation, this simple approach can help: Take a minute to review your plan. Assess the situation. Consider alternatives. Make a pros and cons checklist. Then proceed with confidence .

Four personal factors can be stumbling blocks to success:

• Desire for acceptance. If you are worried as to how your decision will be accepted by family, friends, co-workers, children, spouse, or lover, ask yourself why. Then ask them. Consider their views. If you are convinced that you are making the right choice or decision—despite what others think—then act upon what you believe is the best decision. Whether by intuition or logic, make a choice and be grateful .
• Concern about trade-offs. Anxiety can unnerve you. When resolving a situation, what happens if you think you may have made too many concessions? You might seek the advice of others. You can try to renegotiate. Or accept the fact that everything has a price. If your decision helps you meet your goals , then proceed.
• Fear of failure. You may be fully confident of your decision, but suddenly you realize that success or failure rests with you. If you are willing to accept the praise for success, you must also be prepared for consequences if you fail. That said, focus on the win. Review your strategies. Refuse to be intimidated. Work towards satisfactory solutions.
• Determination to follow through. A decision that is important to you may not be as important to others. If you want your plans to come to fruition, you must take the responsibility to make them happen. Revise your strategy if necessary and work with others to achieve success.

Taking the lead

We often read studies regarding who is the better decision-maker, men or women. Although men are often considered to make riskier decisions, it frequently depends upon the situation. According to a report in Frontiers in Psychology, “Understanding whether, and how, acute psychosocial stress affects risky decision-making in real life has far-reaching consequences because every human will have occasion to make an important decision under pressured and anxiety-provoking circumstances.” (Dryer et al. 2022)

Even before women entered the workforce, many were determined to be taken seriously as decision-makers. We know the names of many of these women, but we often forget about Maggie Walker, who advocated successfully for the rights of African American women. Commitment, activism, and follow-through brought women the right to vote, equal pay for equal work, and before Roe v. Wade was overturned, freedom of choice.

Looking at today’s divided political environment we see that women may be playing a leading role in decision-making. There are some who want to win back the right to freedom of choice. And there are women who prefer to turn back the clock. It seems there will be stressful times ahead.

Copyright 2024, Rita Watson, MPH

Mann L, Harmoni R, Power C. Adolescent decision-making: the development of competence. J Adolesc. 1989 Sep;12(3):265-78. doi: 10.1016/0140-1971(89)90077-8. PMID: 2687339.

Porcelli AJ, Delgado MR. Stress and Decision Making: Effects on Valuation, Learning, and Risk-taking. Curr Opin Behav Sci. 2017 Apr;14:33-39. doi: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2016.11.015. PMID: 28044144; PMCID: PMC5201132.. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03573-2

Dreyer AJ, Stephen D, Human R, Swanepoel TL, Adams L, O'Neill A, Jacobs WJ, Thomas KGF. Risky Decision Making Under Stressful Conditions: Men and Women With Smaller Cortisol Elevations Make Riskier Social and Economic Decisions. Front Psychol. 2022 Feb 4;13:810031. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.810031. PMID: 35185730; PMCID: PMC8854750.

Watson, R.E., The Art of Decision Making: 20 Winning Strategies for Women, Lowell House, N.Y., 1994

Rita Watson, MPH , is an associate fellow at Yale's Ezra Stiles College, a former columnist for The Providence Journal, and the author of Italian Kisses: Rose-Colored Words and Love from the Old Country .

• Find a Therapist
• Find a Treatment Center
• Find a Support Group
• International
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• Switzerland
• Asperger's
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chronic Pain
• Eating Disorders
• Passive Aggression
• Personality
• Goal Setting
• Positive Psychology
• Stopping Smoking
• Low Sexual Desire
• Relationships
• Child Development
• Therapy Center NEW
• Diagnosis Dictionary
• Types of Therapy

Understanding what emotional intelligence looks like and the steps needed to improve it could light a path to a more emotionally adept world.

• Coronavirus Disease 2019
• Affective Forecasting
• Neuroscience

• Quote of the Day
• Picture Quotes

Peter Drucker Quotes About Problem Solving

Standart top banner.

Erroneous assumptions can be disastrous.

Results are obtained by exploiting opportunities, not by solving problems.

Progress is obtained only by exploiting opportunities, not by solving problems. When you solve problems, all you do is guarantee a return to normalcy.

The most serious mistakes are not being made as a result of wrong answers. The true dangerous thing is asking the wrong question.

last adds STANDART BOTTOM BANNER

Send report.

• The author didn't say that
• There is a mistake in the text of this quote
• The quote belongs to another author
• Other error

Related Authors

Peter Drucker

• Born: November 19, 1909
• Died: November 11, 2005
• Occupation: Author
• Cite this Page: Citation

Get Social with AzQuotes

Follow AzQuotes on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Every day we present the best quotes! Improve yourself, find your inspiration, share with friends

Popular Topics

• Inspirational
• Motivational
• New Quotes (9)
• Accomplishment
• Achievement
• Bureaucracy
• Communication
• Decision Making
• Doing The Right Thing
• Entrepreneurship
• Expectations
• Inspiration
• Making Decisions
• Making Mistakes
• Making Money
• Opportunity
• Personality
• Problem Solving
• Productivity
• Responsibility
• Taking Risks
• Time Management
• Transformation
• Understanding
• Javascript and RSS feeds
• WordPress plugin
• ES Version AZQuotes.ES
• Submit Quotes
• Privacy Policy

Login with your account

Create account, find your account.