What's the Rush ... or is Rushing the Answer?
With preparation and a keen attention to the concepts of multiple paths forward* and moments of power** it is possible to establish a mental framework for timely decision-making. The preparation is found in thinking about the world and its possibilities. This involves constantly connecting and associating experiences, ideas and objects across all aspects of life and living, not just business. This thinking does not resolve into exact answers, but into questions. It is the ability to develop and probe a string of resulting questions that stem from a thinking exercise or thought inquiry that provides the platform to make timely (value creating, unique) and informed decisions.
Most of the stress associated with time pressured decision-making is because the brain has not had enough time to adapt to and process the subject matter at hand. This has nothing to do with intelligence. Rather it is a reflection of the answer rushing and answer churning cycle (see below ) many businesses and organizations fall prey to. All the energy spent on answer rushing and answer churning is done at the expense of inquisitive and / or curious thinking. When solving problems, the quickness demanded by today's business culture constrains individuals and groups to distribute their problem solving resources equally among all problems. Consequently, all resulting decisions receive equal problem solving resource, regardless of importance or impact. The decision-maker (an individual or group) has not been able to adapt to the immediate decision environment (tactical), because there is not enough time to make mental connections regarding the broader holistic decision environment (strategic).
The most interesting, and applicable, aspect of this conundrum is that it's "solution" is continuous, dynamic, highly customizable and universally available to anyone with a brain. When the mind is surprised or clogged with jumbled, unconnected content of a decision problem, a "quick" decision is generally not healthy. A robust, timely decision is made well when the content of the decision problem is able to flow though an already actively thinking mind.
One of the corollaries of answer rushing and answer churning is that once they are given, the provider is relinquished of commitment. The responsibility for the answer and its resulting consequences is minimal because the answerer presumed the value was in the speed of response, not in the quality of the content. This has been seen in numerous corporate scandals, because the business managers operated under the auspice that their decisions were geared for rapidity and frequency, not quality and sincerity.
Why do we all need it now, what is the rush? Is it because we are made to believe we need it now? Is there such little value on quality that rushing IS the answer?
*Multiple paths forward: each moment in time offers many possible stochastic paths; it is impossible to predict or determine the many possible outcomes
**Moments of power: actions taken now that positively influence the distribution of possibilities and future outcomes for one's multiple paths forward
Originally published March 5, 2008