Focused On Your Business Virtual Office Blog

As a business owner you face decisions every day.  Some are easy, some not so much.  Once your business becomes established and you have proven that your business is a worthwhile partner, many sources will want to work with you. That is the time when decisions become a bit more involved and sometimes downright difficult to make.

Of course, doing your research before you even start thinking about which direction to take is of utmost importance.  Once you have all the information that you think is necessary to make an informed decision, your intuition can be a top-notch tool when it comes to long-term decisions regarding the direction your business should take.

When I started my career, I worked for a medium size company.  The business was built by the owner from nothing and over the many years I worked there evolved and grew to a fairly large sized business.  The decision making skills of the owner always impressed me, because along with research and tangible information, in the end he relied on his gut feeling and for the most part, it worked out to the company’s benefit.

Today’s leaders are bombarded with information via resources, the Internet, the influence of the media, even social media, and some people prefer this analytical decision making process.  They rely on decision making tools such as data processing, algorithms, systems thinking and decision trees… computer artificial intelligence. This data does not allow for any fluctuation, such as throwing human beings and their behavior into the mix. It also hinders the creative thinking process, instead depending entirely on a rational approach.

I believe the most successful business owners heavily rely on intuitive decision making skills.  Making a decision or solving a problem without creative thinking is like a garden without seeds and not much can grow from it. Our subconscious mind acts like a huge memory bank, which we can rely on if we are willing to listen to our gut feeling.  Our intuition takes things into account that a computer can’t – feelings.  Will I get along with this new business partner?  Do I like him/her?  Do I trust him/her?  Is this the direction that I ultimately want my business to take?  We cannot deny the importance of these factors.  Leaders of all walks of life no longer scoff at intuitive thinking, problem solving and decision making.

So, find some solitude, let your mind wander, take a nap and let your creativity and intuition guide you!