In my career, there are many everyday challenges that require tough decisions. Often, decisions must be made in chaotic and stressful environments where you don’t have all the information needed. The answers aren’t always right or wrong. This is where sound, ethical decision-making is critical, especially when your decisions can profoundly impact the individuals involved.
Currently, I'm a police captain. My primary responsibility is supervising subordinate supervisors and police officers who patrol and respond to calls. Shortly after leaving the Army, I spent a significant part of my career as a patrolman working various patrol shifts and responding to a wide range of calls for service, including high-profile critical incidents. I also spent over a decade serving on the department's SWAT team.
I remember early in my career when my Army unit was participating in a large realistic training scenario. During all the simulated chaos, I would get some good advice about decision-making. I remember asking my squad leader how he knew to put our squad into our positions to respond so successfully as we did under quick and stressful circumstances.
The sergeant told me, "At that time, I didn't know the best answer. I made the best decision I could with what I knew, and the worst thing I could have done was to do nothing."
My career path has dramatically helped my decision-making process by allowing me to work with a diverse group of professional mentors. Through their guidance, I’ve learned that when the answers are not always clear, I can lean on my education, experience, and guiding morals and ethics.
Knowledge and Education
It starts with what you know, and education, notably higher education, can be critical in instances when the answers are not always clear. With higher education, you are exposed to diverse opinions that teach you that there is more than one way to see the world. You also develop critical thinking skills that will help you learn to break down complex problems.
Experience
Next comes experience. Seek out leadership roles that are challenging and force you to work through your discomfort. Also, seek out mentors who will help guide you while giving you room to fail. This allows you to learn and grow as a leader by stepping with intention into situations that will stretch you.
Morals, Ethics, Values
Finally, when you have what you know, prepare to decide what's best using your morals and ethics. Follow your guiding principles, your faith. Remember the people involved are exactly that – human – and consider all the implications of your decision.
Even in less complex scenarios, I find myself leaning into what education offered me. After three degrees and multiple mentors throughout my life and career, I have gained a confidence I could only develop by challenging and stretching myself in seasons of discomfort.
The more of the hard decisions you make, the more confident you’ll be when they show up again. Challenge yourself – you’ll be glad you did.