Decisions come in all shapes and sizes and carry different levels of risk vs reward, cost vs benefit. Here’s a quick and easy way to choose what level you’re dealing with – is it a hat, a haircut or a tattoo? We can move reasonably quickly when dealing with hats and haircuts. But tattoo level decisions require more time and attention to detail.
Hats
Most every-day decisions are like hats. Try one and if you don’t like it, put it back and try another. The cost of a mistake is low, so move quickly and try a bunch of hats. These choices are usually at a tactical level – what to do in the moment.
Haircuts
Some decisions are like haircuts. You can fix a bad one, but it won’t be quick, and you might feel foolish for a while. That said, don’t be scared of a bad haircut. Trying something new is usually a risk worth taking. If it doesn’t work out, by this time next year you will have moved on and so will everyone else. These decisions are more often at an operational level – the ‘where’ and ‘how’ of agreed process and procedure.
Tattoos
A few decisions are like tattoos. Once you make them, you have to live with them. Some mistakes are irreversible. Maybe you’ll move on for a moment, but then you’ll glance in the mirror and be reminded of that choice all over again. Even years later, the decision leaves a mark. When you’re dealing with an irreversible choice, move slowly and think carefully. These choices are mostly at a strategic level – the bigger questions about why this is important and who is involved or affected.
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