Your business is at a crossroad and you aren't sure which way to turn. Field service business owners are used to making many decisions daily, but sometimes situations that weren’t anticipated appear and throw a curveball at even the most experienced business owner. Fear not! At HindSite we recognize how challenging it can be to make a sound decision, especially when faced with the many other obligations a field service professional has. So next time you are faced with a challenging decision that must be made in a limited amount of time, follow these tips to ensure that you are making the best decision for your business.
1. Know the Facts
Regardless of whether the decision to be made results from a conflict with a customer or a financial investment, it is critical to know all of the facts. Take time to sit down and listen to both sides of the story. Many business owners find that writing down the facts of a situation helps them organize it better and allows them to see a clearer path to the solution.
2. Don’t make decisions until you’ve checked your emotions at the door
As a business owner, you are responsible for making decisions that will benefit your company as well as your employees. Sometimes your emotions or personal connection to a situation can steer you away from making a decision that benefits the good of your company. It is important to take a step back and consider the way a decision could influence everyone involved. If you have a hard time disassociating yourself and your emotions, follow our next tip and talk the situation through with your peer network.
3. Don’t go at it alone - talk to your peer network
Sometimes a decision seems too important to make based off your judgment alone. That’s why it’s so important to have a strong peer network of people you can confide in. Talking a decision over with your peers can bring valuable insight, as well as presenting pros and cons that you weren’t aware of. When you are struggling to see the whole picture, bringing in other perspectives is the smartest thing you can do for your company. Nobody said decisions must be made alone, so never miss the opportunity to ask for help and advice. A word of caution; however, is to only open up to peers who understand your business mission and goals for the future—too many opinions from people who don’t fully understand your business can leave you even more conflicted than before.
4. Make a List of Your Options
The most important thing to remember when making a decision is that not every situation is black and white. Most decisions have more than one outcome. That is why it’s so important to consider all of the possibilities. One way that business owners organize all of possible outcomes of a decision is by making lists. For each potential decision, write down the pros and cons that it may create. This will help you weigh the risks and benefits of each decision and lead you to an outcome that you and your company can be proud of.
5. Base decisions on productivity, not politics
In the decision making process, it is important to consider why you are leaning in a certain direction. Think hard about why you are considering one outcome over another. Consider the motives you have for making a decision to ensure that you are deciding in a way that will benefit your company’s productivity and your relationship with customers rather than in a way that is only political. Make the decision that will benefit the most people and improve the quality of your service and customer relationships.
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