Thursday, February 9, 2023

Tackling Complex Decisions

Give yourself permission to suspend decision-making when the risk of impact on others is high

By Amanda VanRookhuyzen, Business Analyst

In a recent interview with Joe Rogan, the singer Jewel said (I’m paraphrasing) that she loves complex problems because she loves sophisticated solutions. In my experience, complex problem solving and complex decisions go hand in hand.

We all make countless decisions every day. Some primarily affect ourselves (e.g., what to wear to work, how often to floss) and some affect others (e.g., what to make for dinner, what time to schedule a meeting).

Some decisions are simple and straightforward and don’t require much discussion. Other decisions are much more complex and may involve multiple, potentially competing considerations and viewpoints.

When faced with a complex decision to make, are you the type to write out a pros and cons list? Do you consult with those who may be affected? Are you the type who makes rapid decisions despite knowing the risk of potential impact on yourself or others down the road?

When the outcome of a decision impacts others, it can be well worth the effort to carefully weigh all potential risks and impacts. Most of us can think of a decision we’ve made where hindsight taught us that we may have underestimated the impact on others. Most of us can also—perhaps more easily—think of a decision someone else has made where they overlooked its impact on us.

Basic project management training often uses construction examples around decision-making lessons learned the hard way. For example, a developer decides to build a rehabilitation centre across the street from an elementary school without consulting the community. The resulting uproar and protests ultimately cost the developer more than they estimated and could significantly alter or shut down the project.

Think about an experience when you were not sufficiently consulted on a decision that impacted you. How did you feel after? It is usually easier for us to accept or accommodate some negative impact of a decision when we are consulted beforehand.

If you carry the responsibility of making decisions that impact groups of people at work, be aware of how much the reactions of others around you relate to the way you handle decisions that impacted them. Keep your eye out for patterns, and remember that not everyone will feel comfortable to express when they are upset.

Again, some decisions have greater risk of impact than others. When the risk to others is low, it is generally more reasonable to make rapid decisions. When the risk to others is high, making thoughtful decisions will typically pay off in the form of less resistance to change.

Here are four tips I’ve picked up from mentors along the way in my career when it comes to tackling complex decisions—especially those that may impact others.

Give yourself permission to temporarily suspend decision-making when possible.
Ensure the underlying problem or purpose of your pending decision is clear.
Identify at least two options to decide between to help reduce personal bias.
Identify others who may be impacted, and proactively consult with them.

• Explain that you are collecting feedback to make an informed decision.

• Remember that all feedback offers insight, regardless of the tone it may carry.

• If hosting a group discussion, set clear ground rules that foster healthy dialogue.

A workplace culture reflects the decision-making style of its decision makers. Thinking about how you make decisions in given situations can help you minimize the risk of making a bad decision that negatively impacts others—and possibly your career.

Tackling Complex Decisions

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