A bad decision is one that you regret or, even worse, hurts others. An example of this is when you break trust. Bad choices can be changed if you're willing to work at them and do the work necessary to make them right again. However, it’s out in the open and unambiguous. It was a mistake, and you or others will call you out. There is action to be taken; first, admitting it was bad and then being proactive in correcting it. It also shows that you are open to change.

A slow decision is often worse because of the uncertainty it creates. It causes doubt in others because they don't know when it will be made or what the outcome will be like when it is made. Slow decisions inspire speculation. “I don’t know what is happening, but I am sure it isn’t good.” Additionally, it can sow doubt because people feel like they aren't being heard by those making them; therefore, they become frustrated and angry with your inability to decide.

While it's essential to make decisions carefully, you also need to be able to act quickly. If you're always waiting for the perfect time or information before deciding, you'll miss opportunities and lose confidence from everyone you and perhaps yourself.

If people see that they can't count on you because of how long it takes to decide, they'll begin questioning whether it's worth their time working with someone who needs to be more decisive. This will weaken relationships within the group and ultimately hurt productivity overall.

Ultimately, it may be better to adopt Agile’s “fail fast, fail early” and correct your action rather than let the one you didn’t sow doubt.