‘It is our choices…that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities’, Dumbledore to Harry; J.K. Rowling
I talk to many companies and entrepreneurs about their business development. Their needs and aspirations are quite varied, but common themes do become apparent.
Most common is the need for more business; to find more customers and win more sales. This is useful as these two aspects happen to be my areas of expertise! However, a common confession from business owners and managers is the difficulty they have in making decisions. Some of these decisions are for strategic issues, such as matching products to markets, or where to obtain funding. Some decisions are less critical, but still important, such as in selecting a supplier, prioritising daily activities or when to follow-up contacts or proposals.
Demands for decisions can be both internal and external. All sorts of issues come into play, from time management, influencing skills, decision momentum and balance, to deciding priorities, urgencies and consequences. No wonder we cannot make up our minds!
“Alice came to a fork in the road. ‘Which road do I take?’ she asked.
‘Where do you want to go?’ responded the Cheshire Cat.
‘I don’t know,’ Alice answered.
‘Then,’ said the Cat, ‘it doesn’t matter.” Lewis Carroll
There are some simple techniques and processes that can be applied to every decision, that should make them easier to make, quicker to resolve and ultimately much less stressful.
These can include:
- Knowing yours and your businesses’ true priorities and being true to these
- Establishing the difference between ‘urgent’ and ‘important’
- Considering different processes and techniques; choosing the best way forward
- Developing a personal decision making process that is straightforward and comfortable
- Establishing background; involving stakeholders and influencers; managing expectations
- The ‘laser approach’, versus ‘sheepdog focus’, or even ‘option adoption’ techniques
- Applying time management skills to ensure indecision does not prevent progress
- Striking the right balance between the ‘head’ and the ‘heart’ approach
- Considering Transactional Analysis as a possible option for achieving the best personal outcome
- Being prepared to decide not to decide, but fixing and keeping to a new decision deadline
- When logic does not suit; using the ‘approach attributed to Einstein’
Some say that there are no such things as ‘wrong decisions’. They argue that whichever route we choose is the correct one, based on what we know and how we feel at the time. This approach has merit as much time, energy and stress is wasted in regretting past decisions. This forward looking approach can make a big difference to your confidence when you are challenged with more decisions to be made.
Decision making is a fascinating art (and science). Being comfortable with the process is important in order to maintain the quality of, and satisfaction in the result.
If you want to consider this further for you and your business, Salient is holding a workshop in February called ‘Decision Making – made easier’. For more details and to book, go to the events page here.