How to Come Across as Decisive and Confident

Idea

It’s one thing to make decisions, and another to appear decisive. When my sister was training as an eye surgeon, she told me that a key success factor in treating patients is to act decisively and confidently.

Just imagine you’re sitting in the examination chair next to an instrument table full of shiny metal tools, which a doctor is about to use on your eyeballs. You definitely don’t want that doctor to hover over her instruments, seemingly uncertain of which one to choose. In fact, it’s a major “no no” – it upsets people because they think you don’t know what you’re doing.

My sister’s strategy was to not move her hands toward the instrument tray until she had decided which one she wanted to use, and then swiftly and expertly pick up that instrument without touching any of the others.

Example

A Managing Director who ran a part of our division had a tendency to appear indecisive. He had a habit of furrowing his brow when asked a difficult question that required a business judgment in his area of expertise. He would then start his answer with “uhhhh….” and sprinkling in a few “ahhhm”s between sentences after that and rubbing his face. Basically, the equivalent of hovering over his instruments.

He almost always came up with a really good answer on what to do, but did himself no favors along the way. Lovely and sincere guy, but he never moved beyond that position. While the reasons are always complex, his lack of apparent decisiveness certainly played a role.

To avoid the “uhhhm” or physical equivalent such as squirming in the chair, I’ve found it useful to take an extra breath or two before making the move or starting to speak. It gives the added advantage of bringing more oxygen (i.e. “food”) to the brain too.

Action

Today, apply the concept of “don’t hover over your instruments” to your professional work. For example, decide what you are going to do before you make a move, before you speak; then move swiftly and decisively. No verbal “uhhhms” or physical waffling as a holding pattern.

Go through today thinking “incisive and surgical”. Don’t vacillate publicly. Notice your actions, expressions and habits when you’re in the decision-maker seat.

How does it feel to be incisive and decisive?