Just as with life, business is a constant barrage of decision making. Should you hire that person? Should you launch this project? Should you expand? Cut back?

To make it even more stressful, your decisions often can have serious consequences on your business that can weigh on you. What if you make the wrong choice? Should you wait? The uncertainty can drive you crazy.

You can’t avoid decision making, and you can be sure you will not always make the right one, but that is part of doing business. Still, you should work to improve your decision-making process, just like you would any other business skill.

Here are [the first two of] five strategies to help you be more confident and more decisive for every type of decision you have to make.

1. Trust your gut.

One of the best unwritten rules in business is to always trust your gut. In fact, ongoing research has suggested that our gut acts like a second brain in the body, so if something doesn’t “feel” right, it’s probably not the right move.

There have been many times where I have gone against my gut and have been sorry later. In my early years, even if I felt something was off, I thought I could change or overcome it. However, I have learned not to make quick decisions about potential partnerships or business offerings, and instead to give myself more time to see how it feels.

2. Think big picture.

A July 2018 study led by scientists from The Ohio State University found that people tend to make the most efficient decision–the one that results in the greatest overall value for everyone involved–when they look at the “big picture.” This means that you step back and examine the hypothetical impact of the decision in the future. How will it affect your business six months or a year from now? Will it change how your team operates, or how you work with clients?

The key is not to make a decision where the only viable outcome can be measured in the short term. Sometimes we get so ingrained in the day-to-day work, we lose sight of the long-term objective. It’s important to not always work in the business, but rather on the business.

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My own opinion is that all human enterprises are a “work in progress,” for better or worse.

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Amy Vetter is a mindful technologist and creator of the B3 Method. She is a keynote speaker and author of the book Business, Balance & Bliss: How the B3 Method Can Transform Your Career and Life. Amy offers a unique perspective as a CPA and Yogi — who specializes in technology innovation — to inspire professionals to transform their careers, companies and lives. As a third-generation entrepreneur, Amy has launched and sold multiple businesses and is a corporate board member. Her company, The B3 Method Institute, provides ongoing learning to help you achieve your desired potential in work and life. Contact her here: www.amyvetter.com