| One of the biggest mistakes we see people making in business is defaulting instead of deciding. In poker lingo that’s checking (passing) instead of betting (taking the lead). When you check, you pass the action. You wait to see what someone else does. Sometimes that’s strategic, but a lot of the time it’s hesitation caused by fear. Fear of saying the wrong thing. Fear of asking for too much. Fear of being told no. Fear of creating tension. Fear of the unknown. Fear of not being seen as a team player. So instead of making a move, people wait. We wait to see what the boss decides. We wait to see what the client offers. We wait to see what happens before we speak up. That’s the business version of checking. And here’s the problem: when you check too often, you let someone else write the story. It happens all the time. Someone’s been doing excellent work for years. They’ve taken on more responsibility, delivered results, and made themselves valuable. They know they deserve more money. They know they’re ready for the next level. But instead of initiating the conversation, they wait. They check. Maybe the company will notice. Maybe the raise will come. Maybe the promotion will happen at review time. Then someone else speaks up first. Someone else asks. Someone else makes a case for themselves. And suddenly that person gets the opportunity, the visibility, or the compensation. Not always because they were better. Often because they were clearer and made the first move. That’s what defaulting costs. Not just the moment, but the momentum. But checking, too often, isn’t strategy. It’s defaulting. And defaulting is what happens when you don’t choose. Three business lessons from the table: ♠ If you want influence, don’t wait for the action. Create it. Make the proposal. Ask the question. Name the number. Influence rarely goes to the person who is silently hoping to be noticed. It usually goes to the person willing to step forward and define the conversation. ♠ A clear no is often stronger than hesitation. Walking away can be strategic. Staying too long in something that isn’t right rarely is. Whether it’s a bad client, the wrong role, or an offer that doesn’t reflect your value, clarity gives you power. Dragging it out usually drains it. ♠ Indecision creates space for someone else to take the lead. If you don’t define your move, someone else will define it for you. And once someone else sets the tone, the terms, or the expectations, you’re reacting instead of leading. Poker teaches a powerful truth about business and life. You don’t always control the cards. But you do control whether you play them deliberately or by default. In business and in life, don’t sit there checking your way through important moments while someone else takes control. Default isn’t a decision. Make the move. Bet on yourself. |
