I often speak with people about decision-making. One of the most crucial insights I share is how powerful it is to create multiple options before making a final decision. If possible, it’s important to avoid making important decisions a binary choice and to take time to create more options. This is true for business, personal, career, and relationships.  

The Perils of the First Idea

Research has consistently shown that our initial ideas often need to be revised. For instance, a recent Stanford Graduate School of Business study found that managers undervalue novel ideas, favoring more conventional options. This study revealed that creators involved in generating ideas are better at predicting the success of innovative concepts than managers. This happens because creators engage in divergent thinking, exploring novel connections and combinations that might be valuable​ (Stanford Graduate School of Business)​.

The Power of Multiple Options

I often emphasize the need to slow down and resist the urge to latch onto the first solution that comes to mind. Instead, I encourage them to explore multiple different options. This practice opens the door to more innovative and effective solutions.

Strategies for Generating Options

1. Brainstorming Sessions: Allocate time for individual and team brainstorming sessions. Encourage free thinking and generate as many ideas as possible without judgment. This can help uncover hidden gems that may not have emerged otherwise.
2. Diverse Perspectives: Involve people from different backgrounds and departments. Diverse perspectives can lead to a richer pool of ideas and help you see the problem from multiple angles.
3. Scenario Planning: Develop multiple scenarios and solutions for each scenario. This approach generates options and prepares you for various potential outcomes, making your decision-making more robust.
4. Mind Mapping: Use visual tools like mind maps to explore different facets of the problem and connect seemingly unrelated ideas. This can spark creativity and lead to more innovative solutions.

Case Study: A Real-World Example

One of my clients found himself in a familiar yet challenging predicament. He was becoming the bottleneck for execution, sales, and strategy. His days were consumed by micromanaging every aspect of the business, leaving him with little time for strategic thinking and long-term planning. The company’s growth was stalling, and employee morale was slipping due to the lack of clear direction and delegation.

Recognizing the need for change, he embarked on a journey to create multiple options for restructuring the company and distributing responsibilities more effectively. We began by brainstorming various solutions, considering different ways to delegate tasks and empower his team. This process involved developing and evaluating several potential strategies, such as promoting key employees to leadership roles, forming a management team, and implementing standardized processes. By exploring a range of options and weighing their pros and cons, he identified the most effective approach to release him from more day-to-day operations and enable him to focus on higher-level strategic initiatives. This systematic exploration of alternatives ensured that the chosen solution was well-rounded and tailored to the specific needs of his business.

Embrace the Process

Creating multiple options is not just a tactic; it’s a mindset. It’s about embracing the exploration process and recognizing that the journey to the best decision can be a winding path rather than a straight line. You can make better decisions by resisting the temptation to settle on the first idea and committing to generating more options.   

Resources

Freakonomics Radio, Hosted by Stephen Dubner, this podcast explores the hidden side of everything, including decision-making processes. Episodes often feature interviews with experts in psychology, economics, and business, providing listeners with a deeper understanding of how to make better choices.

The Tim Ferriss Show,  Tim Ferriss interviews world-class performers from various fields to uncover their routines and strategies for success. Many episodes focus on decision-making and productivity, offering listeners practical advice on exploring multiple options and making informed decisions.

HBR IdeaCast, Produced by Harvard Business Review, is a podcast featuring leading thinkers in business and management. Episodes frequently cover decision-making, leadership, and innovation topics, providing valuable insights for anyone looking to improve their decision-making processes.