07/ 26/ 2005
Two of this year's most popular business books—Malcolm Gladwell's Blink and James Surowiecki's The Wisdom of Crowds—are about decisionmaking and its results: how wise or reckless actions occur.
Every day, small-business owners and managers make dozens of decisions. Some are routine and quick; others require careful consideration and research. Unfortunately, some small-business owners can't tell the difference between decisions that are important and those that are routine. While still others have a hard time making decisions at all.
In this issue, we explore the process of decisionmaking and talk with several small-business owners about how they go about it. Like Gladwell and Surowiecki, we discovered a wide array of approaches.
In preparing the story, "Decisions, Decisions" on page 36, we learned that often, when decisions must be faced, it’s good to have the help of someone who has faced the same decision—someone who can share with you the wisdom of his experience.
In our article on mentors, "The Power of Two" on page 28, we examine how small-business owners are using mentors, coaches and consultants to help them round out their business skills, especially their decisionmaking abilities.
We're all uncomfortable when facing questions when the only answer is, "I don’t know." But that's a common occurrence when running a business during this era of constant change and challenges.
Knowing how to face those questions, how to process them and how to seek help in answering them is a key to your success in running a small business. Taking time to learn how to approach the decisionmaking process—whether alone, or with the help of others—could be the most important decision you'll ever make.
Rex Hammock
Editor and Publisher
