How to Make Fearless, Competent Decisions and Boost Resolve

Just in time for the New Year, Episode 22 of Faithful on the Clock clarifies how goals and resolutions are different. It provides tips for getting you and/or your team in the right headspace to make great decisions and really follow through.Timestamps:[00:04] - Intro[00:39] - Clarification of how goals and resolutions are different[01:32] - Why having resolutions for yourself or your team is important in business[02:20] - Recommendation #1: Ask yourself why the decision or action matters at the core values level.[03:37] - Recommendation #2: Use visualization, both positive and negative, to know how to move forward, familiarize yourself with the necessary steps, and avoid feeling anxious.[05:03] - Recommendation #3: Think about the consequences and alternatives–what would happen if you didn’t follow through or did something else?[06:24] - Recommendation #4: Be honest with yourself. Weed out excuses so you are more objective about whether the decision or steps involved make sense.[06:58] - Aaron would wear a breastplate when entering the temple to keep himself accountable and remember the tribes of Israel before God. Find your own personal breastplates for customized accountability.[08:15] - Wisdom and courage both are necessary for good decision making and resolve. Ask God for both.[09:35] - Prayer[10:12] - Outro/what’s coming up nextKey takeaways:Goals/OKRs and resolutions are not the same. Goals are the finish line, while resolutions are the decisions involved in that goal or the mental attitude you have that gives you a sense of purpose and firmness toward finishing.Resolutions are important because your team needs to be unified and stay motivated even when things get tough.There are four big ways to strengthen your resolve: 1) ask why the decision or action makes a difference, 2) use visualization, 3) think about the consequences, and 4) be honest. You can use different tangible things to trigger your mind and heart to think and act in a specific way, just like Aaron did by wearing the breastplate for decision-making.Good decision making and firm resolve takes both wisdom and courage. You can ask for courage the same way you can ask for wisdom. God will make you steadfast and confident, and He will stay with you.Relevant Links:Want to Guarantee Success? Visualize the Worst-Case ScenarioCTAs:Use the four strategies outlined in the show by yourself or with your team to make better decisions you don’t regret.Find some tangible “breastplates” you can use to trigger yourself toward consistent thoughts and behaviors related to the goal or choice.Pray for courage and wisdom regarding your choices and resolve. What’s coming up next:Integrity is the backbone of good partnerships and business interactions. But how can you be sure if you, other people, or your business have it? Episode 23 of the Faithful on the Clock podcast outlines what integrity looks like and walks you through how to do a company-based integrity audit.