In a social situation, it’s always a good strategy to ask yourself three questions before speaking: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? These questions will make you socially successful, but they are equally valuable to ask when you’re making business decisions.
Since we’re experts in business storage solutions, we’ll illustrate this principal with storage decisions, although it applies to any type of business decision. Here’s how it works:
- Is it true?
As a business leader, you feel you know your business inside and out. You believe your storage space is adequate. Yet you see desks covered with stacks of files, and product boxes piled up in corners. What is the truth – do you have disorganized employees, or do you have insufficient storage?
Take the time to investigate the reasons behind the facts. You may indeed need additional storage, or perhaps your staff is just messy. Either way, the truth will lead you to a well-informed decision.
- Is it kind?
When it comes to corporate kindness, we usually think of the generous support businesses give to charities large and small. Another way to be kind is to apply green principles in your operations. If you’re considering, for example, a mobile shelving system, think about how it might fit in to your company’s green initiative. And don’t forget to look into the manufacturer’s sustainability program and their employee practices. A kind buying decision can pay you back in many ways.
- Is it necessary?
Business managers instinctively ask this question about every buying decision. But sometimes you get “solution tunnel vision,” applying the same solution repeatedly because it’s familiar. If you take a step back and talk to peers or consultants, you may find more practical solutions beyond the usual ones. For example, let’s say your business has grown and you’re feeling overcrowded in your current space. By talking to a storage consultant, you may learn that your current real estate footprint is actually quite sufficient for your needs if you change to a vertical shelving carousel (to use our storage example again). A outside perspective will often get you out of the solution tunnel and help you determine exactly what is necessary.
We’ve focused here on storage-related decisions because it’s our area of expertise, but these three questions are valid for any decision in your business, from sales to operations to HR. Ask yourself, “Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?” and the answers will give you actionable data.
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