Day 4: Decision Hygiene

The Pivot: Bad decisions aren’t usually caused by a lack of intelligence—they’re caused by a lack of oxygen.

When we rush to decide just to “get it off our plate,” we often create three new problems for every one we solve.

Today is about valuing the quality of your thinking over the speed of your doing.
Let’s avoid the knee-jerk reaction—and move toward solving the root of the problem.

The Lesson: The Cost of the “Quick Fix”

When a staff member brings you a conflict or a parent requests a policy exception, the pressure to respond right now can feel overwhelming.

We often fear that delaying a decision will make us look incompetent.

But the opposite is true.

A calm, thoughtful leader knows the most powerful phrase they can use is:
“I hear you. I’m going to reflect on that and get back to you by [Time/Date].”

This isn’t stalling—it’s Decision Hygiene.
It gives your brain the space to consider:

• The long-term impact
• Your program’s standards
• The systems that might need to change

The Strategy: The “Reflect and Revisit” Rule

Today, for any decision that isn’t a Level 1 Emergency (Safety or Licensing), you are not allowed to decide on the spot.

We aren’t talking about quick answers to logistical questions.
Those don’t require mental bandwidth—and after yesterday’s “Not Yet,” you’ll already be getting fewer of them.

For today, the Reflect and Revisit rule applies to any real decision outside of a Level 1 Emergency.

Here’s your 3-step script:

1. Acknowledge: “Thank you for bringing this to me.”
2. Pause: Use your 5-second pause from Day 1.
3. Delay: “I need to look at our policy/schedule and think this through. I’ll have an answer for you by [Time].”

This small delay gives you power.
It shifts you from reacting to leading.

The Practice: Personas and Decisions

If you are a...

• Firefighter: Fight the urge to “clear the deck.” A fast decision might feel productive, but it often becomes tomorrow’s fire.
• Peacekeeper: Check your guilt meter. Are you saying “yes” just to make someone stop being upset?
• Perfectionist: Use the pause to ask “why.” Don’t just fix the surface—look at the system underneath.

Day 4 Exercise: The Decision Log

At the end of your day, reflect on 3 decisions you made (even small ones). For each one, ask:

• What was the problem?
• What did I decide?
• Did I solve the root cause, or just the symptom?

This is how better decision-making becomes a leadership habit.

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Director’s Journal Prompt

“Today, I felt the most pressure to rush a decision when [Situation].
By waiting to decide, I realized that [New Insight].
I am paid to think, and today, I did my job.”