Many of my clients struggle with making decisions during their divorce. Whenever I am unsure about what to do next, if I have the ability, I apply what I like to call the power principle.

The power principle means delaying a decision, provided there is no negative consequence to doing so, while collecting data to help make a smarter decision.

Let me give you a few examples:

A few years ago my mom was having balance issues. She had several medical issues that may have been the cause of the balance problem. The surgeons were suggesting spinal surgery.

Before agreeing to the surgery, I suggested that we employ the power principle. Why rush to surgery when there could be another cause of her balance issues? There was no risk in taking the time to collect information about her case to help us make the best possible decision.

It would be a mistake to do the surgery if it was not going to be curative. We shlepped to several doctors and got multiple opinions to help us figure out the best course of action.

I used the power principle a lot during my legal battle. For example, on the eve of trial, we finally received an Offer to Settle. Rather than trying to close the deal fast, I decided to use the power principle to weigh my options and make clever decisions. I took the time to figure out his pain point and utilized that data to strategically construct a counter-offer that ensured my must-haves.

Any time you intentionally and strategically delay a response or decision, you are employing the power principle. This is particularly important to utilize during your divorce. You need to be a rock star and employ all of your grey matter to achieve optimal results.

Don’t rush to respond, especially to hostile communications from your ex. Think, plan, consult reliable resources, and collect information until you are comfortable making a decision that serves you.