NFIB

Decision Time
09/ 05/ 2003

by Vicki Gerson

Business owners make decisions every day. No matter how big or small the decision may seem, making the decision is the easy part, while following through is always harder. Say, for example, you decide to change your hours of operation, actually telling employees that hours are changed, putting a new sign on the door and most importantly, marketing the change to customers is the hard part.

When considering changing something about your business, realize that your decision alters the status quo and will require change from your employees. Before you act hastily, make sure that your decision is going to address the needs of your company in a way that is not detrimental to your business or employees.

For example, the reason you have decided to change the hour that your business opens because employees never seem to arrive on time. They claim it's due to heavier traffic in the area, road construction and the fact so many businesses open at that hour. By changing the opening hours, you hope to solve this problem.

After you've made the decision to change the hour that your business opens, you need to get your employees to follow through and act on the decision you've reached.

As another example, assume you have made the decision to hire a computer trainer to bring in a contact management program. This computer trainer will need to work with the employees and teach them the elements of the program. The decision to act involves having the program installed and getting all the sales people to work with the computer consultant.

Your ability to get your employees to commit to an action is more reasonable when you can support it with logic. In addition, if you are committed and enthusiastic about a new program or policy, for example, employees are less likely to complain, reject or try to circumvent the decision.

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