DECISION-MAKING
We are defined by decisions we make, by decisions we have yet to encounter, and by decisions we
avoid making. Has our interaction with digital technology affected how we assign value to these states of decisiveness? Is it possible that inexperience and indecisiveness
have become as, if not more, valuable than
decisiveness? What may be enabling this shift of emphasis in what
we value?
Digital technology enables us to communicate instantly and constantly. In effect, we have developed improvisational & sporadic behaviors. These behaviors are complimented by, characteristics of flexibility and adaptability. These characteristics have
become a social norm in the way we communicate and interact. Is it possible that we mistakenly equate
characteristics of flexibility and adaptability with inexperience and indecisiveness? Is it possible that our culture has developed a tolerance for casually interchanging
these concepts?
Indecisiveness is defined as the inability to
make a decision. This paralysis can be caused by lack of:
- Information
- Opinion
- Perspective
- Experience
- Confidence
- Familiarity
Another trait of indecisiveness is to minimize risk. This overly
cautious trait can be caused by a fear of:
- Failure
- Missing Out (FOMO)
- Responsibility
- Control
Many of these
traits are interrelated with one another. Is it possible that our interaction with digital technology has influenced these traits? A growing trend in digital applications is the inclusion of a “Maybe” option. This option is traditionally associated with indecisiveness; but perhaps in a society which has begun to operate more improvisationally, "maybe" has become the more responsible decision. Has our society evolved to honor indecisiveness rather than planning and forecasting. Or, is our civilization splitting into categories of Trend Setters and Trend Followers.
Digital technology has made it simple to follow people and ideas. It's easy to be fed information. The surplus of options can be paralyzing; and in this paralyzation indecisiveness dominates. Seemingly, our culture is evolving into an ocean of currents, and we've become swarms of fish, grouping, networking, dividing and re-merging in a vortex full of nutrients but void of substance.
Be more decisive.