Twenty years ago, Gwyneth Paltrow starred in the movie ‘Sliding Doors’. The movies premise was how would have turned out depending on whether or not she catches a train. Good movie – worth revisiting.
Decisions, good or bad consistently change businesses and lives. The decisions you make have both immediate and long term consequences. Not every decision will be the right one. Remember, you’re the one who has to live with the decisions you make.
It’s essential you make better business decisions that drive profitability.
Want to learn how to make better business decisions?
Rule #1. Align decisions to your culture and values.
Sounds obviously but sometimes, especially under political pressure culture and values mysteriously vanish. Decisions are made to suit others and go against what you believe. Such decisions make you uncomfortable but yet you make them. While they generally solve the issue for now, rarely do you prosper long term. At some point your culture and values clash with the decision and you either backtrack or are left feeling compromised.
It’s important to appreciate that humans aren’t necessary hard-wired to make the best decisions. The angst of making a decision often causes us into a confused emotion state.
Rule #2: Where possible don’t rush your decisions.
Instant decisions sometimes feel great. You solved the problem, gave your answer and are ready to move on. But have you covered all aspects of the decision. Did you consider everything.
Rule #3: Be collaborative.
This is a great time to be collaborative. Ask others, get opinions from those involved. Write everything down no matter how inconsequential. Evaluating decisions in this way allows you to understand the impact on various people. Inevitably information will surface that may well shape the decision. Information you have already disregarded or never considered. Many points of view make better decisions.
Rule #4: Take off the blinkers
Horses wear blinkers to keep focused. Without blinkers they have the potential to run off course. You sight is different. Too often we look inward and assume our options and choices are limited. People tend to narrow their options and forget to take a helicopter view. Rarely is there only one or two ways to solve a problem or create an opportunity.
Rule #5: Think beyond tomorrow
 You’re conditioned to want to reduce pain. This heightens when the pain is causing immediate stress. Often you reach for and accept the first answer.
