If anything fills an executive or business owner's day it's the constant demand for decisions. These can run the gamut from what cups to buy for the cooler or signing a new 5 year lease. Some decisions give time to research and make a better more informed decision, while others are presented as emergencies with no time to think. I have run multi- million dollar businesses as both CEO and CFO. Both have their areas of responsibility and depending on the size of the enterprise their own time frames of most concern. Day to day managers have shorter time frames of concern and in some ways get more than their fair share of emergencies. It's a bit harsh but true that many emergencies are the result of a failure to plan. Looking ahead at just the rosy scenarios is nice but not pragmatic. As the popular bumper sticker says, S--- Happens. OK, here is my personal method of making decisions:
When time is allowed I always research data, vendors, services, lawyers, costs etc. thoroughly. I make a written record of findings and try to put them in a simple graphic representation. That not only helps me keep it straight but also aids greatly in showing it to others. A good graph is worth a 1000 data points. Once this research gathering and representation phase is complete I compare it to the stated objectives as defined by SURVIVAL POTENTIAL, If some done or not done increases SURVIVAL POTENTIAL then I can act or not act as the case supports. It is crucial to understand that the data must be reliable and factual. I am not discussing fantasy but reality. What iffing is fine and that can be part of the process though it does not change the major alignment factor to SURVIVAL POTENTIAL.
In cases where time is of the essence as in emergencies where property and lives are at stake I have a different process. I simply ask the question "what immediate action protects the most people and property"? That can include people's jobs as well as their physical well being. In a flood you don't consider the color to paint the lunch room.
Familiarity with your surroundings and environment will greatly improve the correctness of the emergency actions decided upon. Come on, as an Executive or Business Owner you get the big bucks for the quality of your decisions and your ability to implement them.
You'll note that SURVIVAL is the major component in my decision making. People and managers who make non- optimal survival choices will in time fail. Of that I have great certainty. Any good business can get away with a few bad decisions but as a steady diet it bad decisions bring diminishing success, and if uncorrected failure follows.
When dealing with people it is never good to discount humanity. Caring is in my opinion and experience is a hallmark of good executives and owners. But caring must be monitored by the business activity's survival. You can't care so much that you use up every penny for health care benefits etc. A balance is needed and good managers do that more less as their nature. But in making decisions about who to help, hire or fire, there is but one main factor to consider. PRODUCTIVITY. I'll add to that by saying productivity that has the quality defined for the business to survive is what we want. You don't want high producing salesmen who use unusually high pressure tactics alienating customers, or mechanics that don't bother to grab the torque wrench to ensure a proper lock....productivity must be associated with ethical production. Make a good product or deliver a good service in good volume and you'll be a star.
So the key takeaways here are that decisions are improved by monitoring their solutions with SURVIVAL Potential and emergencies are bested by considering survival on a more base property and lives basis and fast. Both are improved if able to also consider productivity. It's always nice to like your people but this is not a political subject but rather the raw deal stuff of Survival for your business. If a business survives everyone attached to it benefits. That is what Leaders do.
If I can help in any instance where a decision seems difficult, call.
Good Luck as we re-open the USA.
Donn Marier