Reactive Versus Responsive Decision-Making ðŸ§
Last month I faced a significant crossroad in my professional development journey. After 18 months in a business coaching program that hadn’t delivered expected results, I found myself feeling disempowered. – a particularly uncomfortable position as someone who empowers others for a living.
Despite substantial investment and learning, I’d become dependent on their guidance. Yet I recognised the program had pushed me beyond comfort zones and sparked growth. The transformation dilemma emerged: was I simply retreating to safety, or honouring my need for empowerment to create results?
After extensive journaling and dedicated thinking time, I moved beyond reaction to thoughtful response.
In my work I coach my clients to move beyond the Limbiq System response, which is a fear based response and most often triggered by past experiences, rather than the result that we are hoping for. When project teams operate from this reactive state, alignment fractures and performance suffers.
Here’s the decision-making framework from “The Road Less Stupid” by Keith J. Cunningham that transformed my approach:
1. What is the upside?
2. What is the downside?
3. Can I live with the downside?
This reality check revealed my concern about losing valuable network connections. I decided I couldn’t live with that downside, so I found a local business network to provide the connection and feedback I needed.
This made my decision clear. I left in search for a new business coaching strategy that works while maintaining what I value.
How long do you stay in relationships that don’t serve you?