3. Think Through the Pros and Cons
There’s nothing like taking the time to really examine the pros and cons of an
issue to give you a strong dose of reality. It rarely comes down to simply
choosing the course of action with the greatest number of pros, because all pros
and cons do not carry equal weight. But that’s
not the value of the exercise,
anyway. Rather, it helps you to dig into the facts, examine an issue from many
angles, and really count the cost of a possible course of action.
4. Picture the Worst-Case Scenario
The essence of realistic thinking is discovering, picturing, and examining the
worst-case scenario. Ask yourself questions such as:
What if sales fall short of projections?
What if revenue hits rock bottom? (Not an optimist’s rock bottom, but real
rock bottom!)
What if we don’t win the account?
What if the client doesn’t pay us?
What if we have to do the job short-handed?
What if our best player gets sick?
What if all the colleges reject my application?
What if the market goes belly up?
What if the volunteers quit?
What if nobody shows up?
You get the idea. The point is that you need to think about worst-case
possibilities whether you are running a business, leading a department, pastoring
a church, coaching a team, or planning your personal finances. Your goal isn’t to
be negative or to expect the worst, just to be ready for it in case it happens. That
way, you give yourself the best chance for a positive result—no matter what.
If you picture the worst
case and examine it honestly, then you really have
experienced a reality check. You’re ready for anything. As you do that, take the
advice
of Charles Hole, who advised, “Deliberate
with caution, but act with
decision; and yield with graciousness or oppose with firmness.”
