Business owners and managers make decisions every day. Some of them are so simple and could be done in minutes. Others are critical decisions, which are likely to have a huge impact or involve risks and thus have to be thought through thoroughly. Since decision-making involves a mental process, it is advisable to prepare mentally when making big decisions for your business. You can do so by following the advice below.
Getting Your Emotions Out of The Way
If you want to make good decisions, don’t let your emotions take the lead. While emotions are good, as they make our life experiences better, they should never be the basis of decision-making. For instance, you shouldn’t introduce a product simply because your gut tells you it will be a nice one and you can make good profits from it. You need to reason, research, and evaluate real data. This can help in identifying whether there is a real chance of success because your emotions can’t tell you what customers want, the cost of production, and if there are any competitors. Therefore, while your emotions may have brought a good idea into mind, you should keep them aside when making decisions and take some time to reason, research and evaluate.
On the other hand, you should not let negative emotions get in your way of decision-making. Don’t delay your decisions because of fear. So long as you know you are going to follow the right process and check all things thoroughly before making your final decision, fear shouldn’t hold you back.
Think of the Expected Outcome Beforehand
Thinking of the expected outcome is another way to mentally prepare when making critical decisions. Is the decision expected to boost profits? Will you have to move to another location? What about working hours? Will you be working more or fewer hours each day? How will it affect the workforce? Even when you don’t have the exact figures, you have an idea of the direction the decision is expected to take your company. Taking time to think about the outcome can make your decision-making more effective.
Eat Healthily, Drink Water, Exercise, and Sleep
As stated above, decision making involves a mental process. These four factors have a huge effect on your brain health and function and this is why you ought to consider them, not only when making a decision but throughout your life. According to this Healthline post, refined carbs, trans fats, sugary drinks, highly processed foods, and fish high in mercury are some of the foods that can have negative impacts on your brain. Therefore, do your best to limit these foods in your diet. Instead, consider fruits and vegetables, nuts, healthy oils, and healthy lean protein foods. Also, avoid skipping meals or overeating as both of these are unhealthy. You can also take supplements that help your body relax and recover from stress, like the ones offered by RnA ReSet.
Exercise can boost brain cell production, alleviate stress and depression, and promote a better mood. Stress can affect the quality of the decisions you make. In addition to exercise, check and work on any factors that could be causing stress in your life and get help if you need to.
Finally, ensure you are getting enough sleep each night. Don’t stay up at night thinking about your decision. Set aside time during the day to deal with work-related issues. You may have to keep your computer out of your bedroom to avoid doing research or checking emails at night. Getting a new comfortable mattress is also a good investment as it will make it easier to sleep. When you get enough sleep each night, you are more focused the next day and your chances of making mistakes will reduce.
Finally, don’t forget to talk to other people about the big decisions. These could be your mentors or other business people who can give you some advice, or people who will be affected by the decision and may have to give their input at some point.
