One of the first questions we should ask before making any decision is: do we need to make this decision now? And if not now, by when should it be made?
Not all decisions require immediate action. However, delaying decisions comes with a cost—the cost of delay. This is the price we pay for not deciding—whether it’s continued frustration, operational pain, or missed opportunities that disappear once the moment passes.
For example:
If support for our current ERP system ends next year, I may not need to decide today whether to upgrade or replace it. But I do need to make a decision now to set up a project team—so that I’m presented with viable options within the next six months.
Similarly, I may plan to buy a new car next year. I don’t need to lock in my purchase today, but I might start evaluating models, test-driving, and narrowing my choices—so when the time comes, I’m ready to act.
We can save ourselves a lot of effort, stress, and even cost simply by timing our decisions well.
