FOUR TIPS IF YOU FIND MAKING DECISIONS DIFFICULT

Before we start: if the decision is low risk for the business, make it and move on. If it is higher rish, spend some time and consider this advice.

If you find making decisions in your business difficult, this advice is for you. 

1. SET A TIME LIMIT. Often, decision making is hard because there is no time imperative. Set one, for each decision. Reach an agreement with yourself that you will make a decision by a set time. Write it on a post it note, set a alarm on your phone. Having a deadline will force a decision. Often making a decision, any decision, is better than procrastination. Over time you will find you no longer need to set an alarm or write the time down.
2. TALK TO A 'FRIEND'. In this case, you are your own friend. Tell yourself what you would tell someone else tasked with making the same decision. We suggest this because some people can find it easier to tell others what to do than to make the decisions for themselves.
3. LOOK AT THE DATA. If the decision in front of you is about anything for which there is data, write it down, assemble it, look at it. Often, this process can reveal the decision for you. Data trumps emotions.
4. PRACTICE. If you are chronically indecisive, build a 'decision-making muscle' by practicing and starting small. In one day, for example, set up a series of choices: what to have for meals, what to wear, who to call, what grooming products to use etc. Give yourself 30 seconds to decide each at the time. Follow through each decision. Repeat. Work up to bigger things.

The speed with which retail is changing today, fast decision making is vitally important. Training yourself to do this can give you a competitive edge. This is why we say it is important.

If you know you are slow at making decisions, consider delegation. However, if you delegate, you delegate. This means you delegate the right to make wrong choices, you delegate the right to make mistakes.

We can help, too. If you are not sure what to do on a topic or issue, ask us. Note, we will most likely ask for data, to help us guide you.