How To Make Better Small Business Decisions All The Time

Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash

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There comes a time in every small business owner's life when you have to make a decision. This can be a big decision or a small one - but they’re all impactful. Often, the difference between a successful and unsuccessful small business lies in the decision-making process.

If you’re constantly making good decisions, your small company is moving in the right direction. Make the wrong calls, and it could be over before you know it. How do you make better small business decisions? Here are some tips that’ll work for everyone, regardless of what type of business you run.

Never decide on an impulse

Impulsive decision-making is a recipe for disaster. The worst thing is, it can work well initially. You go with your gut and see positive results, making you stick to this tactic forever. Eventually, your luck runs out and you make terrible business decisions.

Never decide anything on an impulse – always collect as much information as possible beforehand. Don’t let people rush you into making decisions either, take as much time as you can until you have a proper overview of the entire situation.

Evaluate as many options as possible

Business decisions can have two options – or they can have two hundred. It all depends on the decision you’re tasked with making. So, it makes sense to evaluate all possible options before you land on a decision.

This is where modern technology comes in handy. Thanks to AI, you now have an easy way of evaluating multiple options in a split second. Whether it’s cutting edge artificial intelligence legal software that figures out the best way to proceed during negotiations, or detailed business analytics software using AI to provide possible solutions to supply chain problems. Artificial intelligence is out there for every business owner, and you should use it when making decisions.

Even something as simple as asking ChatGPT for some possible options can help you get a better understanding of the possibilities. Find all avenues you could go down, and then analyze their strengths & weaknesses.

Consider the outcomes

Too many small business owners make decisions without thinking about the outcomes. You may consider short-term benefits, but how does this decision affect you in the long term?

Before deciding anything, think about the consequences it will have on your business. What are the short-term impacts, and what are the long-term outcomes? Sometimes, the best decision has a negative impact temporarily but could result in long-term benefits. If you don’t focus on all possible outcomes, you could make a bad decision that leads to long-term failure.

You can’t hide from the fact that decision-making is tricky. It’s also very scary, especially when the fate of your business can hinge on one outcome. Following the tips above can help you get into a better mindset when it’s time to make decisions. Don’t rush the process; take your time to weight up all possible options, think about how they affect your business now and later, and then use technology to gain further analysis. This should help you find a clear winner, allowing you to make better decisions.

Cousett

Known as THE Techie Mamma, I am a boy(x2) mom, and love technology. As a former Educational Technology academic turned Mompreneur, and super passionate educator, I am on a mission to empower Mompreneurs to build, and grow their business to live the Mompreneur Life they want.