“Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there.” -Will Rogers
A family is like a business. Not much can go forward without the capacity to make decisions and then follow through. Even if you are on the right track, as the humorist Will Rogers noted in the quote above, not much can happen if you fail to take action when action is what is called for.Whether you are a couple trying to decide where to live or parents wishing to decide appropriate consequences for misbehaviors of the children, you will have trouble moving forward unless you figure out a good process for making decisions. This requires, first and foremost, time- and not just time, but time spent together in an environment where there are minimal interruptions.
One of the biggest challenges facing families today, with so many parents forced to work long hours outside the home, is a lack of time to talk, to make future plans, and to assess what needs to be done. As a result, far too many parents make decisions on the fly or respond when things become a crisis. As difficult as it may be, we highly recommend that parents plan to sit down together, without children, cell phones, or the TV blaring, for at least a one hour business meeting each week.
Although seemingly impossible for some, this will save time in the long run. It is far more time consuming to confront a problem that has gotten out of hand than to create structures that will help the family operate more efficiently and effectively. Like a good business manager, bring a notepad to your meeting. Create an agenda and first prioritize what decisions need to be made. Remember to take notes so that you can hold yourselves accountable for the decisions that you make and for what actions each of you will take before the next meeting. And above all, keep track of the slow, steady progress you begin to make and give thanks to each other and yourselves for your hard work!
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