In today’s episode of the Leader Fluent Podcast, I’m talking about, “Eight Ingredients of Good Decision-Making.” Leadership and decision-making go hand in hand, and in this episode, I’ll share eight keys to make better decisions. If you're not already a subscriber, I'd love for you to subscribe to Leader Fluent today on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Android, Pandora, or your favorite podcasting platform. And as always, your RATINGS and REVIEWS are deeply appreciated. 

SHOW NOTES:

Leaders make countless decisions in their organizations, and those decisions are on a wide spectrum…from easy to difficult, from small to big, from simple to complex. The real question is, how do leaders consistently make great decisions? Let me share eight ingredients to help you make better decisions, and a simple question to go with each one. 

1. God: What is the Holy Spirit Saying?

One temptation in leadership is to restrict our decision-making inputs to the latest research, the newest books, our closest friends, and the most respected leaders in our field. There’s nothing wrong with any of these, and we’ll talk about them in a moment, but great decision-making starts with God. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” 

The most helpful prayer a leader can pray is, “God, fill me with the wisdom and knowledge of your perfect will, and give me the courage to pursue it.” So, when it comes to an important decision, invite the Holy Spirit to direct you and speak to you. 

2. DNA: Does the Decision Violate Our Identity?

Every church and every organization has a unique DNA. In general, an organization’s DNA is made up of four things:

Vision – Where you’re goingMission – Why you existValues – What’s most importantCulture – How we do things

For your DNA to positively impact your organization, you have to integrate it into your decision-making. If you don’t, you’ll start to experience sideways energy. 

3. Research: Have I Done My Homework?

In-depth decision-making requires some in-depth research. In fact, Jesus once said, “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish’” (Luke 14:28-30). The lesson is clear—good decisions require proper planning and research. 

4. Experience: What Does Past Experience Reveal?

One of the greatest informers of future decisions is past experience. Job 12:12 says, “Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?” The longer you live, the more perspective you glean and the more insight you uncover. So, when you’re making decisions for your church or organization, pay attention to three types of experience:

Personal Experience – This is the experience you personally bring to the table. It usually consists of your failures, successes, habits, education, proficiencies, and observations. 

Historical Experience – This experience draws on your church or organization’s historical trends, traditions, metrics, and behaviors. The purpose of historical experience isn’t so much to define a future strategy, but rather to understand how the church or organization might respond to future decisions. 

External Experience – This experience comes from leaders outside of your church. You might look to a coach, consultant, mentor, or another experienced leader in your field to provide fresh input before making an important decision. 

5. Advice: Have I Sought the Wisdom of Others? 

The book of Proverbs has some of the most practical insight on the importance of advice. For example,Proverbs 13:20 says, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” In other words,