“I can’t believe this is back on my plate!” someone said to me over coffee the other day. “I thought I had fixed it last week. Now they tell me I hadn’t considered the people in other locations.”
In today’s crazy-busy world, it is easy to feel momentarily relieved when making a decision, any decision. Even resolving a tiny task takes a bit of the pressure off and shortens the list. Unfortunately, too many of these quick decisions come back to haunt us. Something essential had not been considered. The people affected didn’t respond the way we assumed. The action that appeared blindingly obvious at the time turned out to be short-sighted. Social researchers have labeled this phenomenon “anchoring.” They define it as giving disproportionate weight to the first information received about an issue to be resolved.
Between pressure and impatience, it’s easy to anchor on the first option that comes to mind, especially if it’s being suggested by someone you trust. We hear messages like, “Go with your gut” and “Trust your instincts.” But many times this advice doesn’t take into account the larger circumstances. Then time and efforts double as we’re forced to reconsider and re-decide.
It is common for many of us to “multi-task” and “decide on the fly,” as if we have some superhuman powers. Well, good luck with that. The more significant the decision, the more important it is to deliberate before acting. The most effective decision makers I’ve interviewed, recognize this phenomenon and are not afraid to postpone decisions that will require more nuanced consideration. They plant these issues in the back of their mind. They discreetly ask others they respect about the best course of action. They turn off the distractions in the car and contemplate. Each has developed a set of techniques that serve them well in these circumstances. How about you?