Most business leaders pride themselves on being able to guide a team to success through strategic and objective decision making. However, we’re all human, and even the most shrewd of executives can succumb to subjective feelings and opinions from time to time. In this guide, we detail three strategies you can use to stay objective when making all-important business decisions.
Define the issue or goal
Before making any decision, it’s important to identify whether or not the problem you face or your overarching goal is one that will benefit from an objective approach. Is it a personal challenge, or are you making a decision based on the needs of your team? Why is the decision being made, and do you need to be the one to make it? By being mindful and reflecting on the issue constructively, you can identify whether or not you’re on the right route to tackle your decision.
Once you’ve defined the purpose of your decision, you’ll know the best strategy. There may be some instances where subjectivity is needed, and others where objectivity is an absolute must. Most of the time, problems arise as a result of being unable to clearly identify the most helpful course of action, so this is what you ultimately want to avoid.
Refer to the data
If you’ve decided that your decision needs to be based on objective fact alone, you’ll want to make sure that you’re referring to useful data-driven information. Look to technological advancements to aid you in your decision making – lots of industry leaders are already relying on AI to help them analyze complex data sets to make objective decisions.
You’ll need to ensure that any data you refer to is reliable. You should identify how the data you’re using has been collected and collated – you may want to conduct your own research to ensure the information you’re leaning on is valid.
Seek feedback
Action taken by any business leader can have far-reaching consequences, so it’s important to get a second and third opinion before making any decisions. By collaborating as part of a team, it becomes much easier to identify where you might be acting subjectively or with bias.
Don’t underestimate the benefits of having impartial colleagues or employees aid you in decision making. Often, we’re not aware of our own biased tendencies until we’re challenged by someone else, or see it in others. So, talking to your team about your decision may just result in the feedback you need to ensure that your decision is driven by objectivity. As an added bonus, it’ll show your team that their opinions are valued, resulting in a boost of motivation, loyalty and productivity.
Why should you be objective?
There are many benefits to objective thinking in the workplace. As well as making decisions that are fair, it can help to ensure that you’re acting rationally and in line with the needs of your business goals. By incorporating strategies to make decisions more objectively, you may even find that decision-making processes are streamlined, and success more easily achieved.