How do you seize opportunities when making decisions?

It requires a combination of awareness, strategic thinking, and action. I'd say: Recognize opportunities, know what you want to achieve in the short-term and long-term. Evaluate the potential benefits and drawbacks associated with each option. Be open to change and adaptability. Prioritize since not all opportunities are equal. Prioritize them based on their potential impact on your goals, your available resources (time, money, and energy), and their alignment with your values and long-term vision.

When faced with the task of purchasing IT equipment, I knew defining clear goals and criteria was essential. Our success measure? Efficiency without breaking the bank. Using the SMART framework, I set specific goals: cost-efficiency, improved performance, and scalability. Then, I outlined measurable criteria such as budget, processing power, and expandability. This disciplined approach steered me toward the perfect solution. We not only stayed within budget but also acquired equipment that boosted performance and ensured future scalability.

When we typically think about defining goals, we are told they should be SMART. However, SMART goals tend to downplay our ambition, focus primarily on how I perform individually, and overlook the importance of discussing goals throughout the year. They also do not necessarily ensure the success of the overall organizational strategy. In my experience, to effectively execute strategy, you should instead aim for FAST goals, which are based on four key principles: (1) Frequently discussed, (2) Ambitious, (3) Specific and (4) Transparent. For instance, making goals public allows employees to see what their colleagues are working on, fosters peer pressure, and aligns individual and team objectives across different departments.

Seizing opportunities when making decisions involves a combination of proactive thinking, strategic planning, and a willingness to take calculated risks. Here are some steps to help you Stay Informed Set Clear Goals Identify Weaknesses and Strengths Network and Build Relationships Embrace Change Risk Assessment Prioritize Opportunities Data-Driven Decisions Consider Long-Term Consequences Act Quickly Continuous Learning Seek Feedback Stay Flexible Remember that seizing opportunities often involves taking some degree of risk. It's essential to find a balance between calculated risk-taking and prudent decision-making to maximize your chances of success.

Goal setting plays a very important role - be it in organization or in personal life. Goal setting provides clarity, vision and direction to your actions. It helps you channelize both your energy and resources in the right way.

I was recently working on a project where we needed to decide which platform to use. We had a lot of options to choose from, so we decided to scan our environment and network to get some insights. We conducted a SWOT analysis to assess our internal and external factors. We also talked to our colleagues, mentors, and customers to get their feedback. This helped us to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each platform, as well as the opportunities and threats in the market. In the end, we decided to use a platform that was a good fit for our needs and our target audience. We were confident that this was the right decision because we had done our research and consulted with our network.

In my experience, "Open Strategy" offers a more dynamic, collaborative, and adaptable approach to scanning your environment than traditional tools like SWOT, PESTEL or 5 Forces. Open Strategy recognizes that in today's fast-changing business landscape, organizations need to be agile and open to diverse perspectives. Open Strategy also leverages your network of contacts, peers, customers and employees. The result is often more customer-centric, value-driven, and creates momentum as well as buy-in for change within the staff during development.

The most rewarding opportunities aren’t those which are obvious to everyone. They are the often the ones which are under the radar and where no one is looking. These opportunities often come disguised as problems. An insight led approach, which comes from studying the problem from the lens of different stakeholders who have the need to solve it, can create ground breaking opportunities and innovations. The start up world is rife with examples of this disruptive approach to opportunity identification.

I think it's a combination of factors. Collaborative efforts with partners, suppliers, or other businesses can create new opportunities. Explore ways to work together on projects, product development, or marketing campaigns. Challenge conventional wisdom and think outside the box. Creativity can lead to innovative solutions and unique opportunities that others might overlook. Recognize that finding and capitalizing on opportunities may take time and effort. Stay persistent and patient in your search, and don't be discouraged by initial setbacks.

I agree with the articles point about being proactive, but with a twist. It’s not about scanning for decisions that need to be made. It’s about being intentional about building relationships, be curious about what’s happening and why, and continually looking for breakdowns in the system. As you do this, you’ll find yourself continually deconstructing problems and situations and finding the decisions that need to be made to reconstruct them in better ways. You’ll also need to balance this effort with being proactive about learning about what others in similar fields and industry are doing. This will put you in a strong position to identify meaningful decision opportunities while being prepared with what is needed to make the right one.

Take calculated risks: While it's important to evaluate risks, don't be afraid to take calculated risks. Sometimes, the most significant opportunities come with a degree of uncertainty. Consider the potential upside and weigh it against the potential downsides

Before investing in experiments, take a walk, a Gemba walk. When an opportunity presents itself, develop three to seven application concepts. Take the concepts for a walk in the environments where they would be applied by expert target customers. A bio-tech company did this with the concept of contracting their therapy approval method and network of specialist to other bio-tech and bio-pharma companies. A billion dollar per year business leveraged capabilities that were underutilized, readily expanded, and very hard to copy as it was reputation and relationship based. Take the proposal to prospective customer then run pilots.

One of the key aspects of this risk management strategy is that you can learn from successes and failures. Using fresh knowledge will help you make more informed and effective decisions. Instead of making a single, static choice, test hypotheses and gather data to adapt your strategy based on real-world feedback.

I was recently working on a project where we needed to migrate a service to a new provider. We knew that this was a complex and risky project, so we decided to experiment and learn as we went. We started by prototyping different migration scenarios. We also ran pilots with a small number of users to test our assumptions and get feedback. This helped us to identify and address any potential problems before we migrated the service to all users. We also used data analysis to track our progress and identify areas where we could improve. We held after-action reviews to capture our learnings and make sure that we were making the best decisions. In the end, we successfully migrated the service to the new provider.

Take Risks...Be willing to take calculated risks when you've identified a promising opportunity. Evaluate the potential rewards against the associated risks before making decisions.

Navigating the ever-shifting edtech landscape is like sailing through a sea of challenges and chances. When the market showed signs of saturation with instructor-led models, my team and I spied an opportunity: modular, self-paced learning. After a slew of brainstorming and meticulous pros-and-cons analysis, we took a calculated leap of faith. We retooled our existing tech to whip up a minimum viable product (MVP) in record time. This wasn't risk-free; it meant reallocating resources and rejigging timelines. Yet, by staying market-savvy, banking on our team's skills, and tuning into customer vibes, we turned this gamble into a triumph. This experience has since become a cornerstone in my approach.

My team and I were recently building a site for a new customer. We had a tight deadline and a lot of work to do. We knew that we needed to be flexible and decisive in order to get the site to the customer on time. We started by creating a detailed plan of action. We also identified potential risks and challenges. We knew that things would not always go according to plan, so we were prepared to make changes as needed. We also made sure to communicate regularly with the customer. We kept them updated on our progress and solicited their feedback. This helped us to make sure that we were meeting their needs.

In the field of applied behavioral analysis, these skills are especially important when working with clients with special needs. As an program director, I need to be able to be flexible and adapt my treatment plans to meet the individual needs of each client. I also need to be decisive in order to make quick decisions about how to best support my clients. By being able to adapt to changing circumstances and make quick decisions, I can provide the best possible support to my clients.

Remember that opportunity-seeking is an ongoing process. It requires proactive efforts, adaptability, and a willingness to learn and explore. By combining analytical tools, networking, market research, and creativity, you can uncover and create opportunities that may not be immediately obvious.

My team and I were recently building a site for a new customer. We had a tight deadline and a lot of work to do. We knew that we needed to manage risks and trade-offs in order to get the site to the customer on time and within budget. We started by identifying the potential risks and trade-offs involved in the project. We also created a risk matrix to assess the likelihood and impact of each risk. We also developed a risk mitigation plan to reduce the likelihood and impact of the risks. This included things like contingency plans, backup solutions, and communication plans. We also made sure to communicate regularly with the customer. We kept them updated on our progress and solicited their feedback.

If you are good at it, your ability to capitalize on opportunities quickly and profitably is something to protect. The top companies that I have worked with take measures to bind the employees that sustain that competitive advantage. A few even go so far as offering tenure and a personal credit card paid off by the company. Personalize recognition to recipient's preferences.

During the early stages of my career, I often found it challenging to pause and celebrate our successes. It seemed like there was always so much work to be done that we forgot to take a moment to acknowledge our achievements. It was a mentor of mine who imparted a valuable lesson about the significance of celebrating the team, regardless of whether we succeeded or faced setbacks. I came to understand that celebrating our collective efforts not only boosts team morale but also serves as a powerful motivator for future endeavors. Even though I may not hold the title of CEO, I've learned that simple acts like saying "thank you" and "well done" can have a profound and lasting impact on the team's spirit and motivation.

Be sure to explicitly manage an Opportunity Vine. Some opportunities appreciate and some depreciate in value over time. Prune the vine of missed opportunities to avoid wasted effort. When pruning the vine, sometimes it is a good idea to allow employees to take opportunities with them even without monetary compensation.