Transforming organisations

Sitting on the fence

I’m working with a CEO who is trying to decide on an investment of several million pounds that will effectively double the size of his business. On the one hand the decision to go ahead would be part of the bull’s eye for the organisation although there are considerable borrowing and interest repayments to consider. On the other hand there are personal considerations such imminent moving house, a young family and another baby on the way. The decision to invest would mean much more time spent away from home than is currently the case.

Now during the last two months my client has taken advice on the decision from just about every business contact he has. On several occasions he has been within a whisker of signing on the dotted line and on several other occasions he has been within a whisker of abandoning the project and concentrating on ‘business as usual’. But on the each occasion he has managed to climb back up and sit resolutely on the fence.

This trait can be a personality preference because some of us like to be planned, scheduled and sequential with closure being a priority. Others prefer to be flexible, spontaneous and responsive with gathering more information being a priority. So regular readers may be wondering, since I know so much about the particular circumstances, what sort of incisive, decisive advice I would give him.

Do you know, I’m really not sure.

posted by Tim @ 10:26 PM