Unlocking the Key to Thoughtful Decision Making

Small business leaders often face complex decisions with high stakes, requiring a careful balance of practicality, empathy and alignment with the company’s core values

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on HR Strategies Now

Here’s a familiar scenario: a team member suggests a new initiative, or you’re asked to review options for a new process, tool, or project. Now you’re faced with a range of possibilities, some of which you can assess with confidence, and others that fall outside your expertise.

For leaders in the workplace supplies industry, making the right decision can have significant implications for employees, customers and the company’s bottom line. If you’re looking for ways to navigate these challenges and make well-informed decisions under pressure, read on for practical strategies and common pitfalls to avoid in your decision-making process.

Ask for Information

When you don’t have all the facts, how do you make the call? For managers, this question often arises when faced with requests from team members, suppliers, or other departments. Whether it’s a proposal for new inventory management software, a suggestion for improving product delivery, or a pitch for a new product line, the pressure to act quickly can be intense.

However, making decisions with incomplete information carries risks. Moving forward without fully understanding the financial, operational, or customer-facing implications can lead to outcomes that fall short of expectations, stretch budgets unnecessarily, or disrupt business workflows. While it’s important to remain open to new ideas, the key lies in creating a structured process to assess requests effectively, ensuring due diligence and mitigating risks.

Align with Values

Even the most well-intentioned decisions can backfire if they clash with a company’s ethos and core values. In a small business setting, where culture and trust are critical to success, decisions that conflict with the company’s guiding principles can have far-reaching consequences. For example, choosing to invest in a cheaper supplier might help the business save money in the short term but could damage your reputation and customer trust in the long run if the supplier does not meet expectations for delivery or sustainability.

When making decisions, it’s essential to articulate the reasons behind them and tie them back to your company’s values. This approach helps build trust with your team and customers, demonstrating that your decisions are thoughtful and aligned with the overall mission.

Balance Emotional Influence

Business leaders are human, too. When decisions impact employees’ roles, responsibilities and livelihood, emotions often come into play. It’s natural for leaders to feel torn between compassion for their staff and the practical demands of running a business.

In many situations, small business leaders must consider the bigger picture. They understand the impact decisions may have on employees and customers but must also prioritise the financial health of the business and the needs of various departments.

A “no” doesn’t always have to be final. Explore creative compromises, such as phased rollouts of new initiatives, pooling resources with other teams, or seeking external funding opportunities. Recognising and validating the emotional impact of decisions, particularly those that affect someone’s job or department, is important. A simple acknowledgment, like “I understand this isn’t the result you were hoping for,” can go a long way in maintaining positive relationships within your team.

Making decisions in a small business is rarely straightforward. Successfully navigating the process requires balancing empathy with practicality, gathering comprehensive information and ensuring every choice aligns with your company’s core values. By approaching decisions thoughtfully, communicating transparently and staying true to your business principles, you can foster trust and confidence within your team and achieve outcomes that benefit both your business and customers.