How do you Measure the Most Important Decisions?

How Do You Measure the Most Important Decisions?

Making decisions is a normal part of business. One of the greatest ways to make your decision making efficient is to allow your priorities to give you direction in what to do.  Inevitably, this means we must have a structure to how we prioritize and what is important. The way we prioritize people, projects and profits can all be measured in units; reasons for decisions. The question is; “How do you chose to prioritize, and what unit speaks loudest to you?” The answer to this, has a significant effect on our business and beyond that, our lives.  

 

In business, we must turn a profit or we cease to exist. However the journey to being profitable can look very different depending on how we make our priorities. One thing that I have learned from mentors, personal experience and other business leaders is that pursuing profit as a sole priority has not led to a fulfilled life.   

“What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?”

Matthew 16:26 MSG

Each reason is a pathway that leads to the shape of your life. The journey can look different depending on which road you chose. The trajectory of your business can be determined by the choice you make and what undergirds your process. Here are some of the “units” that we can measure our priorities with: 

Urgency

If you haven’t picked a way to identify the priorities of life, this is the default method of prioritizing. This unit is all about time. If left unchecked it can make you driven by the clock, chasing deadlines and dealing with every request as though it is an emergency.  When we measure the weight of a priority simply by urgency, it can lead to a pattern of reactionary leadership where urgency trumps importance. There will always be a need to measure some things by urgency but an urgency mindset can trap you in a cycle of busyness, where quantity overshadows quality. 

Principle

Principles are universal truths and laws that determine outcomes and consequences. They are timeless and unchanging by nature and are widely regarded this way by many people. They are things like integrity, honesty and respect. They form a good foundation for a company and build trust within your organization. They empower decision making at all levels becomes they are universally understood. 

Purpose

Leaders that are able to connect their decision making to their purpose navigate tough moments by staying “on mission.”  They are able to frame their decisions in the context of their own core values and beliefs. This is often a key way entrepreneurs or leaders of ““start ups” prioritize, keeping progress aligned with the vision that drives the organization. This type of leader is able to be intentional, planned and led by vision.  However, if this is your strength, typically you will need a team or support who are able to tackle some of the lower level more tedious decisions. Communicating your vision will be crucil to the longevity and success of your business. 

 

Having a balance of Purpose, Principle, and Urgency is a healthy way to tackle the challenges of making decisions. Prioritizing purpose and principle over urgency ensures that the we stay on track with “our mission” and aligned to our values. Not simply being busy by the tyranny of the urgent. 

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