Currently our firm, Vista Consulting, is working with 2 clients that are facing some very large decisions. The details surrounding the decisions are not relevant; however, the decisions themselves are very relevant.

Sound like double talk?

Not really.

What I mean is… that the result of the decisions are not relevant to this article…but the decision making process is very relevant. I have often related to my children that neither I, nor they, will always make the right decision, but we should always make decisions right. (For the record, I, myself did make a wrong decision back in the 8th specifically what it was, but I do remember that it resulted in a trip to the principal’s office and contact with the “board of education”. Not fun!)

These two clients are approaching the decisions in radically different ways and with radically different levels of stress. Remember, the result of these choices will follow the businesses for years to come.

Client number 1 is fretting about making the wrong choice. Yet he is not doing much else. He paces and thinks, paces and thinks. He calls us with so many “what if” questions that we have lost count. He is attempting to play out every scenario to the nth degree. He’s said many times, “What if I make the wrong decision? What if this happens or that happens?” He is feeling lots of stress…and that is an understatement.

Client number 2 however, is approaching a similar situation yet in a very different manner. He has considered the circumstances and made several very important lists. He has listed the known knowns. (What he knows to be true about the situation.) He has listed the known unknowns. (The things he knows he does not know…and maybe can only find out by making a decision.) But the list he knows he does not know how to compile is the one of the unknown unknowns. (He simply does not know what he does not know.)

At this point client number 2, then, began asking questions. Good questions! When do I have to make the decision or when is the opportune time? Have I gathered enough information to make a well informed choice? Have I consulted my trusted advisors? Do I know anyone else that has been in a situation similar to this? Have I consulted them? What was their advice? He is trying to find out information that he does not even know that he doesn’t know. He is on a mission…and is energized by the process.

Who do you think is more likely to make a right decision? Who do you think is making the decision right? Easy choice here, correct? Client number 2 of course.

When he gets to the point that the timing is right and he has gathered good information he will simply “plant the flag” and move forward in a confident manner. Will his decisions always be right…I doubt it… but his batting average sure will be better than client number 1 and his stress level will be much more manageable.

Have you and your team considered how decisions are made at your firm?

Do you have any unknown unknowns? It is difficult to answer that.

How would you know?