The urge to solve problems and fix things can get in the way of making a quality decision.
A common flaw of decision-makers is to commit too quickly to a workable solution without truly understanding the underlying issues and root causes that gave rise to the problem in the first place. Jumping to solutions is such a common error that scholars who study the decision-making process label it as the number one contributor to bad decisions.
Staying issue-centered and exploring what has given life to a problem takes a patience, discipline, and resolve that many decision-makers and groups just don’t have. One way a leader can combat the desire of the team to move too quickly to solution is to reframe the very nature of what a decision is.
Decisions are most commonly seen as revolving around a problem, opportunity, or situation. But another frame is to view decisions as mysteries to be disentangled and examined in-depth in the search for an answer.
Decisions as mysteries become riddles or puzzles that must first be decoded before a solution can be found. While this sounds like a simple Jedi mind trick, this reframing slows people down and redirects their efforts in a meaningful way.
As we all know, mysteries involve clues and the only way to make progress is to collect and decipher them. An ongoing discussion and investigation of clues allows the team to piece together what lies underneath the issue and begin to form a view. Notice — no solution is even considered at this point, which is the point.
Treating decisions as mysteries to untangle promotes an investigatory mindset where the only good course of action is to remain deeply issue-centered. Exploring issues through appreciative inquiry requires reflection and normally involves comparison between the decision-makers. As the group pieces together the clues, they agree as to what is fact and what is speculation. This sets the stage for a sound analysis and a march toward a quality conclusion.
A mystery unfolds over time and creates excitement and wonder. What a wonderful metaphor for decision-making. Perhaps it is time to explore the mysteries of an issue instead of rushing in to find a solution.
