This past week I had an experience that triggered a reflection I would like to share.
Let me first describe the occasion and set the stage for you.
This situation occurred when my colleagues and I were finding a solution for a specific delivery problem. This happened under significant delivery pressure. I'm sure many of you can relate to similar circumstances. Some advice on a possible solution arrived quickly. The idea seemed perfect for the situation - it addressed the problem, required minimal changes and could be applied very quickly. At the same time, there were aspects that we didn't fully consider because they weren't directly connected to delivery. At first glance, we didn't have any other options given all our limitations in timelines and resources.
To be frank, I was far from comfortable making a positive decision on the proposed approach. I started to ask myself questions:
"What happened? What don't you like? What would the ideal solution look like for you? Do you see better idea with all limitations that we have?"
After some reflection I identified a few reasons why I wasn't so happy. We became highly focused on our limitations. As a result we were close to making a decision in favor of the first idea that came up. The reason for this was the high pressure. We did this partly without being fully conscious of it. It just seemed workable given our current circumstances. But I did not have confidence in a such quickly generated solution was the best one.
Conversation kept going from another side:
"Ok, you can spend too long finding the ideal solution and miss delivery. Hence, you can miss the market, client, be non-compliant, etc. And then you and business in big trouble."
And it is truly right, you can be with perfect solution in the margins of history. In our modern world everyone is trying to be at destination first because first takes it all.
I asked myself, does that explanation satisfy me enough and make me feel happier. I told myself:
"Sure, mostly, but..."
My internal conversation continued:
"Why is there a "but"? Where is your "BUT" coming from?"
And then more rhetorical questions started to come:
The risk I see is that quick decisions are often done under conditions of minimum considerations. That can become even worse because of other factors like:
You can ask me:
"Ok. We have dilemma here. Be quick and effective now and in the future. What would you do then?"
The best approach I found for balancing between quick solution and keeping confidence is:
A quick solution is much better than having no solution at all. Find any resolution as quick as possible. Make GoNoGo decision for that solution quickly. Immediately start preparation to apply it. In parallel continue to ask if there are reasons can be still found to not be happy with the idea. Think broadly about "now" and "future". Try to find better approach to solve newly found reasons. In your head discard all your limitations and pressure. Don't stop yourself in such reflection. Continue to look for other reasons to seek better solutions. Rethink new ideas that leads to better solution. Once you have your "ideal" solution and are mostly happy with it, consider how you can stick to it while adapting to your current limitations
I see high level of agility in such a way of approaching of problems. Also there is a high probability that you will find your "ideal" solution even before you finish preparing to apply the first idea. If there is still enough time and resources, you can apply better solution.
The most important thing is that it instills a good habit in you and your team to think critically everywhere and under any circumstances.