It is the role of the business leader to make decisions. Sometimes, no, quite often, we have to decide with less information than we would want if we had more time. So, we have to take risks and make choices. Lately. I’ve been thinking about what we dismiss in that process.

Urgency drives us barreling down the tunnel of decision like a car going around a blind curve at night. We focus on making the curve safely and ignore what seems extraneous and may kill us if we take our eyes off the goal to evaluate new data. On the other hand, out for a nice drive in the country as spring begins, we might cruise along that same road with our eyes more on the roadside distractions than the road itself.  What is different? What do we dismiss when we feel great urgency that we appreciate when we have time to consider?

That leads me to consider how we are allocating our time.  Why aren’t we building in more time to cruise along – to open our eyes to new insights and opportunities that don’t come into focus when we are desperately trying to hit the goal? Maybe, there is a bigger goal.  Maybe once in a while we need to slow down to go fast. Maybe, I’m just due for a Sunday drive to see the golden poppies.  Want to go?

Interested in Vistage?