As a business leader, you confront issues on a daily basis.

Some are easy to deal with, but often you are faced with ones that are challenging making it difficult to make a decision, so you don’t. You freeze up and nothing is decided. You weigh the issues, you think about the consequences of your decisions, you try to make the right choice but you sometimes get stuck and never actually act on anything. This is bad because the issue is never resolved. This is one of the most harmful reactions you can have.

Let’s start with the premise that there is no perfect answer to the problem. How you deal with making decisions is one of the traits of strong leadership. As a leader you must take action, but it is important that action is taken with purpose and clarity. Being decisive, even when unsure, is an important trait of good leadership. When I first started SACS Consulting, I was faced with several issues in which I had to make a difficult decision. I took a good look at all the sides, weighed possible outcomes and finally made the decision that seemed to be the right one at the time. In each case, there was no guarantee I was making the right decision, but I had to act. It was risky and scary and once I did make the wrong choice. But I survived it and learned a lesson from it which helped me to grow my company into a more successful business. Here are some steps that work for me when faced with a difficult decision:

• Identify the issue and the need to make a decision. Be honest even if it’s uncomfortable.
• Take a stand and choose. Learn to trust yourself and to make decisions even under pressure.  If you get it wrong, you can make adjustments, but doing nothing will get you nowhere fast. There is no reason to think you have to be perfect. Making a decision creates trust and confidence in your leadership.
• Gather facts and data to help you make your decision. Do not rely on your feelings or intuition. Define what works for you, your goals and for your business. Developing strong criteria to follow is very helpful.
• Weigh your options and look at all sides openly and honestly. Evaluate each option without letting personal opinions or prejudices, politics or relationships interfere.
• If needed, seek advice and input from others. Their experience is invaluable and can be a wonderful source of information that can help to build your confidence.
• Communicate your decision once you make it. This creates a sense of conviction and strengthens your leadership. Explain your rationale to your employees.
• Don’t be afraid to adjust or change your decision. It is a sign of growth to continue to learn and change.

You may find that using these steps will help you in your decision-making process. Don’t be afraid to use them and if necessary, to revise or change your initial decision as facts or situations change. Remember, there is no perfect right answer but making a decision is the first step.

President, SACS Consulting & Investigative Services, Speaker, Trainer, Corporate Security Expert Timothy A. Dimoff, CPP, president of SACS Consulting & Investigative Services, Inc., is a speaker, trainer and author and a leading authority in high-risk workplace and human resource security and crime issues. He is a Certified Protection Professional; a certified legal expert in corporate security procedures and training; a member of the Ohio and International Narcotic Associations; the Ohio and National Societies for Human Resource Managers; and the American Society for Industrial Security. He holds a B.S. in Sociology, with an emphasis in criminology, from Dennison University. Contact him at info@sacsconsulting.com.