Curiosity, if not driven toward decision-making, becomes redundant, like a bystander recording social media videos while a place is on fire. Don’t be the person standing before a fire alarm during an emergency, hesitating to pull it. The urgency is apparent, yet hesitation takes over, delaying critical action. Or worse, getting distracted by recording the moment instead of making the right decision when it’s most needed. Leadership works similarly; curiosity sparks growth, but progress demands decisive action.
Many people get trapped in overthinking, curious yet hesitant, fearing the wrong choice. This delay prevents them from stepping into leadership roles and taking charge when action matters most. Be decisive.
Break Free from Indecisiveness
Indecision often stems from fear of failure, judgment, or making mistakes. Think of how effortlessly children use an iPad—navigating apps, exploring features, and experimenting with new tools without hesitation. Their curiosity drives them to learn and explore without fear of making mistakes. In contrast, many adults approach the same device cautiously, worrying about pressing the wrong button or breaking something. This hesitation reflects how fear of errors often holds adults back, while children embrace the learning process with confidence and courage.
This hesitation also occurs in professional settings, where many avoid making decisions due to fear of repercussions. Authentic leadership emerges when you acknowledge the risk, asses the risk, and then act anyway. It also involves developing an environment where people under your leadership can make decisions by setting clear boundaries and frameworks.
Sharpen Your Decision-Making Skills
Make decisions like a high-performance athlete. Think of Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi striking the ball precisely under pressure. Their instinctive actions are the result of years of practice, developing the ability to make rapid, confident choices under pressure. It’s not just about experience but professional skill. One can spend years doing nothing substantial and call it experience, but true skill comes from continuous learning and rigorous practice.
You can strengthen your decision-making ability by building intuitive reflexes. Train your mind through repeated decision-making, starting with smaller, low-risk choices. Overcome fear by shifting focus from failure to learning and growth. Once a decision is made, own it fully. Even if the outcome isn’t perfect, the experience will contribute to long-term progress.
Try it yourself. The next time you order ice cream, choose a flavor different from your favorite. Assess how long it took to decide and your rationale for picking that flavor. Apply that cognitive thinking to your workplace or personal growth when making decisions.
The Balance Between Curiosity and Decisive Action
Curiosity is a powerful tool but can become paralyzing when it turns into endless overthinking. It’s a Catch-22. You must explore possibilities when analyzing a situation out of curiosity before making a decision, but there must be a balanced approach and rational thinking. Effective leadership requires balancing curiosity with decisive action. Think of an AI system exploring possibilities through decision trees. Eventually, it must stop processing and execute a choice. An effective AI algorithm doesn’t get trapped in a recursive loop, endlessly analyzing without moving forward. That’s how you must train yourself to be a decisive leader, not a bystander.
Act with Confidence and Clarity
The world needs decisive people who take action, not passive observers lingering on the sidelines. In football, 22 players and referees are on the field, while thousands watch from the stands. The difference? The players take risks, make decisions, and own their performance.
Be the person who steps onto the field. Stay curious, but don’t let curiosity hold you back from action. Growth happens when curiosity fuels decisions, and those decisions shape your path forward through action and commitment.
Alas remember:
“Stand by your decision. Don’t be a bystander of indecision.” — Asif Durrani
Asif Durrani
14 Jan 2025
https://www.linkedin.com/in/asifdurrani
Picture credit: Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash
Asif Durrani 
And one again Durrani scores!! The analogy to high-performance athletes making rapid decisions under pressure is an insightful one. It underscores how decision-making is a skill that can be honed, much like an athlete’s ability to respond instinctively in high-pressure situations. It challenges us to think about how we can build our decision-making muscles by regularly practicing smaller decisions, which would ultimately help us take bolder, more informed actions when it matters most.