The Decision to Do Nothing

| By Scott McClellan | Found in Communication, Design | 5 Comments

You didn’t decide the computer should stop working, but you decided not to replace it.

You didn’t decide that staffer should leave for another position, but you decided not to recruit someone new.

You didn’t decide the paint should fade and chip, but you decided not to repaint.

You didn’t decide a crisis should happen, but you decided not to communicate about it proactively.

You didn’t decide to settle for a bad website, but you decided not to redo it or pull it down.

You didn’t decide that morale should start to dip, but you decided not to address it.

You didn’t decide attendance should fall, but you decided not to reach out to those who left.

Do nothing is a decision.

Leave it is a decision.

Defer is a decision.

Wait it out is a decision.

Ignore is a decision.

It’s easier to frame certain situations by saying, “I haven’t decided yet,” but the truth is if you’re not researching, measuring, or designing a solution, you’ve already made your decision.

The thing about letting life happen to you is that while you’re not culpable for the negative circumstances that befall you or your organization, you’re still responsible for the outcomes. Ignore things if you want to. Just admit that the decision to ignore was the decision you made.

Of course, it doesn’t have to be this way. We can take a look around, make a list of what needs doing, make decisions about how to order that list, and make the decision to get to work. Which scenario do you think ends better?

 

Scott McClellan is the Editor of Echo Hub and the Director of Echo Conference.

  • http://michaelgrace.org/ MikeGrace

    AMEN!!! Take action and take responsibility! Now the saying, “Only you can prevent forest fires” makes sense.

  • Kmphelsel

    Just been reading, however, about learning to live in the “discomfort” or awkwardness of a situation as a pre-requisite for change. Sometimes we rush in too quickly to try to fix things, instead of spiritually, mentally, and emotionally working through feelings and facts. Lessons are sometimes learned more slowly. Often deeper issues surface and we will then be ready for a deeper change. Only God knows the best timing for some issues — and we can ask Him, trust Him, follow His guidance. Doing nothing may sometimes be a positive prelude to new relationships and experiences.

  • http://michaelgrace.org/ MikeGrace

    Thanks for the contrast. I also agree that sometimes we do rush in too quickly to try to fix things. I believe that two of the biggest problems we have in the world today is a lack of people taking responsibility for their actions/lack of actions and taking action to make something better or fix something.

  • http://echohub.com/ Scott McClellan

    As I read your comment, I see proactivity as a theme throughout: “working through,” “ask,” “trust,” and “follow.” In my life, one of the most important fine lines has been the distinction between faithful patience and convenient passivity. I think your comment addresses faithful patience — a wonderful virtue to be cultivated — while my post addresses convenient passivity — a slowly destructive force in my life and in the lives of many others and organizations.

  • Meeshees

    So well said – thank you!! Convicted and encouraged to make some changes :) .