Decision Making In The Real World – It’s Really Not Like In Hollywood

Making decisions is hard. Im not talking about the day to day decision here, the “should I wear the red or blue cap”, “shreddies or cornflakes” or “to be or not to be” ones, I’m talking about the decisions that are going to be pinnacle to the next few months or future of your life, or in my case, business.

How to step up and make a big decision.

On films, you will see the young lead character storm into the room, slam whatever he is carrying onto the desk, (they are always carrying something, adds to the effect when you slam it down), grabbing everyone’s attentions and then says something profound and inspiring like, “you seem to think this is a decide by committee, it’s not, I’ve listen to all your insights and made a decision, this is what were going for…” The idea is usually very risky, will come close to destroying the company and the individual that made the decision, then change his life in some fundamental way, and it all turns out well in the end. Very inspiring stuff.

Point of note. This is not how it actually works.

Same scenario in a real life setting and how it would work.

Young Lead Character storms into the board room, slams whatever he is carrying onto the desk…

Lead Character: You seem to think this is a “decide by committee”, it’s not, I’ve listen to all your insights and made a decision, this is what were going for…”

[Silence]

Experienced business man on board: Err…No.

Lead Character: What? (taken aback)

Experienced business man on board: Well you haven’t thought about x, y, and z (insert any number of blindingly obvious business practice rules that you have completely overlooked through naivety), and you have completely forgotten about …(again, insert any number of additional issues).

Lead Character (serious dent in the armour):  ok

Accountant guy:  And of course the cost implications of this are … (insert any number, followed by a great number of zeros… enough to make you cry)

Lead Character (serious armour peppering going on): Yeah, didn’t realise that (serious armour peppering going on)

Product experience guy: Your also making the fundamental mistake of …(there are many, many mistakes to make.) and ….(many, many of them)

Lead character (black and blue): err…

Time management guru: Of course the biggest problem of all is that with that approach it will be impossible to make the launch date.

Lead character (helmet beaten off): Really?

Accounted guy: And we won’t make any money, it’s too cost inefficient. You need to run the numbers.

Lead Character (in large amounts of pain): Err…ok…um…

Experienced business man on board: And I’m no sure we have the man power

Lead character (armour in tatters, body ruined): Anyone else have any ideas?

Decision making in the real world, not like the films…alas.

D