Decisions with limited options still need deliberation

It was a dark and stormy night with rain pounding on the windshield. Since it was our wedding anniversary, we weren’t going to let this storm cancel our dinner plans. Looking forward to the evening out, the causal conversation was soon broken by a loud noise, and an abrupt, BAM!

You just know hitting a pothole at most any speed is not good news; had I seen it coming, I certainly would have steered clear of it. The tire alert did not go off, and I couldn’t feel any change in the car’s handling characteristics. As soon as I could, I pulled to the side of the road and took a look around. Everything seemed to be in good shape. Since it’s difficult to get under my car, I would have to wait until Monday to have the mechanic put it on the rack.

Looking things over, we didn’t see any obvious damage. But, some time later it surfaced in the form of a small bulge in the tire – which only showed up on the rack - and a now, more obvious bent rim. It’s the hidden and surprise problems that come back to bite you; I would be faced with a decision that would have limited options.

Since this pony has only four shoes – there is no spare at all in this car – I was forced to take some time to think it through. I saw three scenarios: 1) replace the rim with a new one, 2) replace it with a used one, or 3) see if it could be straightened. The tire would be a much easier outcome; it has road hazard insurance, so it would be replaced for a small fee. But, the rim decision needed to be made, first.

What to do about the rim? A new one would be very costly, need to be ordered, and would outshine the other three. A used rim would be half as much, look more like the other three, but have an uncertain past. Getting the rim straightened would carry the uncertainty of whether it could be done, and at what cost.

Normally I would consider this ‘easy’ on the scale of 1-10 for making decisions; in my mind, there were only three choices. Each carried a fairly obvious risk to reward ratio. But, what I found was that I put more thought and consideration into this than other similar situations. Why?

Where some may make a quick decision with such limited options, I chose the longer route. I found that other factors began to creep in; things like safety, performance, and durability. Calls, emails, and some more thought led me to deciding on straightening the rim at a recommended specialty shop.
 
So it is in business. We are often faced with what appears to be an easy decision with limited options. But, if we put a little more thought into it, would that still hold true? Acting too quickly brings about more mistakes and questionable decisions in business. When challenged, I find the response I get from others usually paints a picture of, “There were limited options, and all I had to do was just pick one.”

Has the speed of business and everyday lifestyles contributed to a false sense of urgency in decision-making? Is the ease of response through cell phones, email, and instant messaging a contributing factor? Do you give all decisions the same consideration, weighing (or seeking out) all the available facts?

The simple lesson for me in this event is not to rest with the notion that all is well after an experience that would normally dictate more attention. Just because I didn’t see any immediate damage, and the tire alert didn’t go off, didn’t mean that a problem wouldn’t surface later. And, when the problem does surface, take the approach to good decision-making by gathering all the facts surrounding each option, then reach out to others for their advice.