January 2026 - Journal_Final - Flipbook - Page 13
Business
When Every Decision Feels Big
So how do you build clarity when experience hasn’t
caught up yet?
For new managers, nearly every decision feels like a
major one. Without established rules, the steady stream
of data and uncertainty can feel overwhelming. Every
choice matters, and the chaos is real. To compensate,
they spend more time analyzing information and lean
on advisors for guidance.
This explains why transitioning decision-making
responsibility can be tricky. Experienced managers
move quickly using proven rules, while new managers
need time, structure, and permission to learn. Mistakes
happen—and that’s okay. Each decision is a chance to
learn and build long-term clarity.
Assigning a major decision to a new manager can
even be valuable. Without intuition to rely on, they
are more likely to focus on disciplined analysis. For
example, when evaluating a new barn, relevant inputs
might include construction costs, planned throughput,
operating expenses, 昀椀nancing schedules, payback
timelines, and comparable rental rates.
New managers should identify the variables that
truly in昀氀uence outcomes, gather representative
data, and build a way to pressure-test the numbers
Often, the cost of a wrong decision
far outweighs the investment in
expertise to make the right one.
before committing. Step one: understand historical
results. Step two: use that insight to evaluate future
scenarios. This process turns raw information into
understanding—and chaos into clarity.
As you consider expanding operations, building
facilities, buying land, investing in vertical
integration, or diversifying, resist relying solely on old
rules. Conditions change, and new options demand
fresh thinking.
If your organization lacks someone skilled in
spreadsheets or AI-based decision tools, don’t worry—
but don’t go it alone. Great managers know when
clarity requires new capabilities. That might mean
challenging a young leader to sharpen their skills or
partnering with a trusted professional. Often, the cost
of a wrong decision far outweighs the investment in
expertise to make the right one.
WINTER 2026 | 13
