There is a difference between a decision being painful and a decision being difficult. Leaders sometimes equate painful with difficult, but there is a difference. There are some leadership decisions that are painful but not difficult to make. For example, a person on your team displays a lack of moral integrity. It will be painful to act and remove the person from the team, but the decision is simple. Or someone you work alongside consistently displays a negative attitude that harms the collective joy of the team. A confrontational conversation will be painful, but deciding to have the conversation is not difficult. You know it is best and necessary.
If you equate painful with difficult, you can fool yourself into thinking a decision or conversation can be delayed. In reality, the decision is only painful. The decision is not difficult and you don’t really need more time.
Difficult decisions of course take more time, as you want more time in prayer and receiving wisdom from others. But don’t deceive yourself into thinking a painful decision is always difficult. If it is simple and painful, you lose credibility waiting, and people are often harmed as you wait.
