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When there is no Clear Answer, Find the Next Step
Insight:
I recently was working with a group of managers who
had to decide whether to replace their company's
customer database now or wait until next year.
Director: We have other more pressing problems,
but we have to replace our current database sooner or
later. We're having a tough time deciding if we can
prioritize it now.
Me: Do you have an estimate for the actual cost?
Director: No, we just know it's going to be
expensive, and I don't want to waste our time if we're
not going to move forward right now?
Me: Would getting an estimate, although a bit
time-consuming, help the group make a more
informed decision?
Director: Yes, it would.
Just like in this example, many people and teams get
stuck circling around a decision. Often, they get so
overwhelmed by thinking about the pros and cons of
each decision, that they don't do the work, such as
collecting more information, that will help them make
the decision.
Key Action:
When bogged down with a difficult decision, keep the
momentum going by taking the next step, even if you
don't know what the final answer or solution will be.
When a team encounters a challenge and no solution
is clear, forward progress on the project may be
halted. If you don't see the solution and how
everything will come together, just take the next step
and see what the world looks like from there. A
clearer picture will often develop that is worth the
initial investment of time and energy.
Here's a more personal example. My friend's
daughter, Josie, is entering her junior year in college.
For the last few months, she has been debating
whether she is going to try out for the Varsity soccer
team and she asked for my advice. I pointed out all
the stress that this decision has been creating for her
and simply suggested that she try out and then decide
whether or not to join the team. She responded,
"You're right. If I get accepted, I'll know a lot more
about the coach, my teammates, and then I can
choose whether to join the team. And if I don't get
accepted, well, I'll never look back and regret not
trying out."
However, be cautious about one pitfall. Sometimes,
decisions are just difficult, and we drag them out even
though we have enough information. In this case, the
next step is to actually make the decision with the
information that is available.
Back to the business example from above, we didn't
solve the problems in that meeting. All we did is help
everyone continue to move towards the goal. At the
end, one of the team-members said:
"Before this meeting, the project was just daunting. I
didn't know if the goal was possible and I felt
overwhelmed. Now, I see that the next step we need
to take is to gather more data in order to make a
decision as a team. I don't know if the project will
move ahead, but I'm excited for the first time in a
while."
In general, if a decision is bogged down, look for the
best way to keep the momentum moving forward--
make a decision, get more information, create a plan
to make a decision, etc., just keep moving forward
toward the goal.
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Key Action: |
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When bogged down with a difficult decision, keep the momentum going by taking the next step, even if you don't know what the final answer or solution will be.
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