Reflecting on 17 years in business & the art of decision-making.
This month I celebrate 17 years in business.
I can’t quite believe so many years have gone by since I left my very well-paying and secure government job to leap into the unknown of business ownership! It’s safe to say it was a very good decision.
Growing up I was taught to believe in myself and to back myself.
My parents also taught me that decisions have consequences, so to think them through. If I was making a decision that had the potential to have a big impact, I had to be prepared to own the outcome.
It’s easy to wrestle with a decision, especially one that will lead to a big change. Or one that we think is risky. Or one that could have unintended consequences (good or bad).
Many leaders I have worked with struggle with decision-making. For reasons that include:
It’s hard!
Information overload – so how do you make an informed decision?
Emotions (and ego) take over – fear, anxiety, excitement, and others can cloud our judgement
External pressure from other people to make a decision that may not align with your values
Balancing the trade-offs
Uncertainty about the long-term impacts and consequences
Decision-making involves self-awareness, self-confidence, critical thinking, and emotional regulation. It’s no surprise that decision-making is one of the most difficult things most leaders have to do.
Sadly, there is no easy or foolproof way to predict the outcomes of our decisions.
However, we can help ourselves to make more confident choices when we seek advice from others, break down complex decisions into smaller parts and recognise and challenge our biases.
