Do Pro and Con Lists Really Work?

Business professionals evaluate decisions using various methods, but one common method professionals use to help them determine the right course of action is to weigh the pros and cons of a situation. A pro and con list allows individuals to visualize the potential benefits and consequences of making certain decisions. While this list can be very useful, it doesn't work for every situation. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of pro and con lists.

Helps You Think Critically About Decisions

Taking the initiative to weigh the pros and cons of a situation forces you to think about an issue thoroughly, thus limiting the temptation to follow your impulses. The process requires you to think critically about how a business decision might impact your career goals, your employees, the company's bottom line or your relationship with customers. By detailing your rationale for each of the pros and cons, you prompt yourself and your staff to deeply consider all possible outcomes of a situation when attempting to solve problems.

Eliminates Emotion

It is common for emotions to creep in when you're making an important personal or professional decision, especially when the decision impacts others. A pro and con list, however, helps to combat this, as it allows you to jot down information in an objective manner. Writing a pros and cons list causes you to distance your emotions from the process so you can focus on concrete evidence and ideas.

Creating a list of pros and cons also gives you time to process your emotions about the potential outcome of a difficult decision. For example, if you are struggling with the decision to change your career goals or have to decide whether or not to fire someone, you might feel anxious or nervous. Creating a pros and cons list might help you to calm down, allowing you to think clearly and rationally while coming up with a plan of action.

Relies Solely on Analytics

Even though emotion is not a crucial element when it comes to making an important business decision, creating a pro and con list deters individuals from "going with their gut feelings." The process of creating a pros and cons list eliminates that intuitive sense that guides people in a direction that is often the best fit. Successful professionals know the importance of using their intuition and do not use pro and con lists to make every single decision.

Regardless of whether or not you are making a personal business decision or one that impacts the company as a whole, creating a list of pros and cons can help you to think objectively and determine the best strategy for solving a problem. Use pro and con lists strategically, but don't let them replace your gut instinct.

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