it's a matter of choice

In the world of acting - there is a thing called "choices". It's the way we approach a line, or the attitude we give to a character. It's our intention, emotion, action. And we commit to those choices to (hopefully) create a memorable experience for those listening to or watching us. While we may have a director or a booth engineer offering us guidance for where to take our performance, ultimately the decision rests with the actor. Her choice will either get her the job, or it won't. There is no one to blame or to hide behind. It's up to you, as the actor, to perform balls out - leaving nothing out. Whatever you decide, it will be out there for all the world to see or hear.

There are choices in corporate america too, but usually it is the choice to defer the decision. Or, in the words of Cinderella in Sondheim's Into the Woods: "I know what my decision is, which is not to decide..." It's a curious paradox of leadership -that in order to make a decision, we must validate (or deny) what our gut tells us in favor of group concensus. Sure, it may be good team building, but in some ways, I think it reduces the trust we have in ourselves - to make good, strong choices and follow them with conviction. Instead, we put our faith in the whims of many, anonymizing the decision and therefore the responsibility.

When a choice made in error by a committee fails, who shoulders the blame? How many cooks do we really need in the kitchen?

While I believe in the value of group consensus, I also believe that strong leadership is more important. If we are always checking in with others, we ultimately learn to question our own judgement in deference to the group. Self doubt increases our unwillingness to commit, and our fear of reprisal when we do take a stand. And so we revert to the coward's way of making a choice: Choosing not to decide.

That's no way to live a life, whether it's on a stage or in a cubicle.

From this moment forward, make a choice. Choose something. Argue passionately. Lead with conviction. Don't take a backseat. Don't be passive. Don't wake up 10 years from now filled with regret, because you let others dictate your path. Choose.