Author: Niall McGinnity, CEO @ Nuvem9
As business owners, we are often faced with situations where decisions aren’t straightforward and can be highly emotionally charged. These are not the routine choices that we can make on autopilot, or delegate to our team, but the hard ones, the ones that wake us up at night and may leave us stuck in a cycle of indecision.
“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response.”
– Viktor E. Frankl
This space, small as it may feel, is where clarity lives. But how can we harness it to move forward, especially when emotions cloud our thinking?
Slow Down to Speed Up
In moments of paralysis, the first instinct is to react quickly; let’s “fix” the problem, get it sorted and move on. However, the most powerful decisions are born from slowing down. When we pause, we are giving ourselves a chance to see beyond the immediate stress, creating time to assess and evaluate the viable options more logically.
A tool I often recommend for this is the Five Whys Method. Developed by Toyota to uncover the root cause of manufacturing problems, it’s a deceptively simple yet effective way to analyze any situation:
Start with the problem at hand and ask, “Why did this happen?”
For every answer, ask “Why?” again, digging deeper until you uncover the root cause—often by the fifth why.
This method isn’t just for factories; it can be applied to decision-making in business, relationships, or life itself.
Serena Williams – 2018 Us Open Final
To illustrate, look at this from the 2018 US Open final. Normally calm and in control on the court, Serena Williams faced one of the most emotionally charged moments of her career. She had received a controversial code violation, which in turn led to an intense exchange with the umpire, and undoubtedly contributed to her eventual defeat to Naomi Osaka.
In the aftermath, Williams reflected on the incident and how she could approach similar situations differently in the future. Instead of simply blaming the umpire, the crowd, the wider circumstances, she asked herself deeper questions:
- Why did I react so strongly?
- So, why was this specific call so triggering?
- So, why wasn’t I able to regain my focus?
- So, why do I allow external factors to influence my performance and mindset?
- So, why didn’t my coaches and I prepare for this kind of situation arising?
Through this reflection, she reframed her future approach to the same situation by adopting a focus on composure and mental preparation in the really high-pressure moments. She created space between the “stimulus” (the umpire’s call) and her “response”.
Applying This In Your Business
We all have the same triggers in our businesses. Dealing with a difficult client, navigating an internal conflict, making a decision on a large investment. When this happens slow down and try this approach:
- Pause: Don’t act immediately. Take a moment to step back.
- Move Location: If required go to a different place to force the break in your stimulus and your response; forcing that space via a physical move of location will reduce the emotion left; go somewhere where you feel positive (my place is to walk to the beach).
- Ask Why (Five Times): Use the Five Whys Method to dissect the situation and understand the core issue.
- Focus on Logic: Separate the facts from the emotions. Acknowledge the feelings but don’t let them lead you.
- Seek Guidance: If you’re still stuck, lean on trusted advisors or mentors to help you see blind spots.
- Choose Wisely: With clarity from this process, make a decision that aligns with your values and long-term goals.
Your (Super) Power to Choose
The ability to slow down and use the space between stimulus and response isn’t just a skill; it’s a superpower. It empowers you to make decisions with confidence, knowing they’re rooted in clarity rather than chaos.
If you’re facing a tough decision right now, take a moment to pause and use the Five Whys. You might be surprised at the insights that emerge.
Final Thought
It’s not about having it together all the time, it’s about knowing you can always get it together the way you want it.
“People say to me all the time, ‘You have no fear.’ I tell them, ‘No, that’s not true. I’m scared all the time. You have to have fear in order to have courage. I’m a courageous person because I’m a scared person.” – Ronda Rousey, the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in judo
Main Image Credit: Photo by Darwin Vegher
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