In today’s pressure packed, ever changing business world, making good choices is critical to your productivity. But you rarely get to make these important decisions in a pressure free environment.
Imagine that you and a friend have just arrived at the buffet of your dreams. In front of you are dozens of foods that you adore. But then, as your mouth is watering, you notice the arrival of two full tour buses. Out comes dozens of hungry, competitive eaters.
You are now faced with a threat. The hungry, competitive eaters will likely devour the buffet’s contents in a matter of minutes, leaving you with crumbs. If you have any chance of getting the food that you want (and not being stuck with endless iceberg lettuce), you and your friend will have to quickly strategize a plan that will allow you to get the items you really want before they’re gone. If you make bad choices under pressure, then you’ll never get close to the carving station, the crab legs, or the sundae bar.
While this is a whimsical situation, very often on the job, making an important decision feels like you’re at The Bad Choice Buffet, where the wrong move will give you indigestion or an empty stomach. To Clear the Path to making better decisions under unexpected pressure, consider these tips:
Know What You Want: There is a difference between what you desire and what you want. You may desire everything at the buffet but there’s no way you can eat it all.
On the job, what is your main goal? Does your decision support it? A decision can be a good one and simultaneously not support your long term objectives. Understand the difference.
Have a Plan: In the scenario above, the best way for you and your friend to get the most fulfilling meal is to split up, load up on foods you both enjoy, and then share them back at your table. So one person grabs the entrees, while the other grabs the sides and the bread.
At the buffet, the competitive eaters are your unexpected competition. In the marketplace, similar threats can emerge. You need to quickly asses the threat and come up with a plan. This may involve doing things differently than you have in the past.
Get Help When You Need It: The alliance of you and your friend may have been unexpected. You don’t usually enter a buffet thinking of another person’s needs. But you both share the goal of getting the best meal and together you can move closer to that goal that you can on your own.
When faced with a problem, don’t suffer in solitude. Find people who can help you come up with a solution.
Bottom Line: Pressure is almost always on the menu when it’s time to make an important decision. By having a framework for examining a situation and then acting on it, you’ll be much more effective as a leader.
