How committing fully — killing off options — drives decisive action

Executive overview

Many leaders pile on more options and explanations instead of committing, which stalls their teams and strategy. The word "decide" shares a root with words like homicide — to decide is to kill off alternatives.

Decisive action comes from deliberately eliminating options, not preserving them.

The CEO case study

• A CEO consistently added more to scorecards and strategy rather than cutting
• His instinct toward "more is more" was undermining his team
• Listening to peer feedback on strengths and weaknesses unlocked self-awareness
• Over time, coaching helped him replace the habit with committed choices

The "throw your hat over the fence" principle

• Committing fully means removing the exit — no going back, no out
• The hat-throwing metaphor: once it's over the fence, you must follow
• Knowing you might struggle is not a reason to delay; it's a reason to commit early
• Ask yourself: where do you add more instead of less, or create too many options?