These decisions can be as trivial as deciding what to eat for breakfast or as impactful as choosing a candidate to join your team or which supplier to trust with a particular task.
Some of the hardest decisions I make as an entrepreneur are figuring out whether to continue business relationships or terminate them, especially if these decisions involve people I have worked with for a long time.
This is hard because no one is perfect. In addition, I get attached to the people that I work with.
It can be very difficult to make decisions. But I have found that the more you train yourself in decision-making, the better you become.
For example, you can give yourself three minutes to order when you go to a restaurant or two minutes to choose an outfit in the morning.
I’m going to share with you other decision-making tips that have never failed me.
Be rational
Think of decision-making as an art. It’s all about training the mind because we are not born knowing how to make decisions.
When making decisions rationally, gather decision-making information first. Does your team have historical data related to the issue raised? Has anyone ever tackled this issue?
Also, remember to seek information from external sources, not just your team and/or company. Effective decision-making involves gathering information from a variety of sources.
For example, you can carry out a market study, work with a consultant, or discuss with employees from another company who have relevant experience in the field that concerns you.
Collecting data helps your team consider the various solutions available to remedy your problem.
Then consider as many potential solutions to your problem as possible. Then choose an alternative or a combination of different solutions.
How do you know if your mind is tricking you?
If your mind is tricking you, the universe will continuously give you signs that you are not doing the right thing.
Drop to your gut
Sometimes, certain decisions are not made: they are felt. Have you ever made a decision that you regretted by following your heart?
No … And if you regret it, it’s safe to say that the weight of remorse for inaction would have been heavier.
Intuitive intelligence uses several parameters of your mind, such as listening and openness.
This allows you to quickly decipher a situation and seize an opportunity when it presents itself to you.
Even if rationality allows you to follow your goals … Listening to your heart often leads to happiness.
Make a decision quickly
You must make some decisions quickly.
Sometimes, a deadline will impose itself. For example, if you have to upload a client’s social media content by a given date.
But in other instances, you might allow yourself to put off making a choice indefinitely, which ultimately forces you to decide in a hurry, without considering all the available options.
Don’t let it come to that!
Don’t spend too much time on the small decisions
Not all decisions require the same amount of effort.
It’s possible to attach disproportionate importance to trivial decisions, instead of focusing on the most important topics.
As a good leader, you need to identify what decisions you should make quickly to save a lot of time and resources.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos divides decision-making into two categories. “Type 1” decisions are permanent, while “Type 2” decisions are reversible.
He explains that “type 2” decisions need to be made as quickly as possible because even if you fail, you can learn lessons that will help you make better decisions in the future.
Accept the consequences of your decisions
Every decision has consequences.
No matter how small or big a decision you make, it will have consequences for your business.
The degree of importance varies the level of consequences to be managed downstream.
The most important thing is to keep adjusting these decisions and adapting to their consequences.
When you think about it, a bad decision is not that bad if you learn the right lessons from it.
You’ll know what didn’t work, why it didn’t work, which will help you make a better decision next time.
It’s okay to consult your team
As an entrepreneur, you work with a team of competent and experienced collaborators.
So, when you are faced with a difficult choice or a major decision, do not hesitate to call on their experience and expertise to help you.
Gather your team and ask them what they think about the situation and what advice they have for a successful outcome.
Not only will your team see the problem from a different perspective than you do, but they will certainly come up with ideas and solutions that you hadn’t thought of.
Close these discussions by making a joint decision. This technique allows you to involve your team and show them that you have confidence in them.
Because there is strength in unity, you will inevitably make a better decision by receiving support and advice rather than by deciding on your own.
Take away
Decision-making makes the difference between good companies and exceptional companies, as well as between good leaders and great leaders.
This means not only making the right decision when you need to but also, most importantly the ability to make the right decisions quickly and consistently, which will help your business reach its full potential.