Make Decisions in Your Business | Complete Controller

By: Jennifer Brazer

Jennifer is the author of From Cubicle to Cloud and Founder/CEO of Complete Controller, a pioneering financial services firm that helps entrepreneurs break free of traditional constraints and scale their businesses to new heights.

Fact Checked By: Brittany McMillen

Make Decisions in Your Business: Simple Strategies to Boost Your Success

Steering your business toward success can feel overwhelming at times, akin to navigating a ship on unfamiliar waters. But here’s the truth I’ve learned over my years as the Founder of Complete Controller: success doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of a series of intentional, well-informed decisions. The way you make choices will ultimately determine whether your business thrives or falters.

Today, I’m unpacking tried-and-true strategies to help you make sharper, smarter business decisions. These aren’t theoretical—these are real, practical tools you can apply to take control of your business outcomes.

Aligning Your Decisions with Business Goals

Every decision you make should act as a stepping stone toward your larger business objectives. The clarity of your goals serves as a compass, ensuring your choices propel you forward rather than derail your efforts.

The power of strategic alignment

Let me paint a picture for you. Suppose you aim for market expansion. Are your decisions supporting that vision? For example, investing in thorough market research, tailoring your services to meet new demographic needs, or channeling resources into high-growth opportunities are actions that align with such a goal.

Over the years, I’ve seen business owners spin their wheels because their decisions weren’t tied to a broader business strategy. Instead of asking, “Does this look like a good opportunity?” start with, “Does this serve my overarching goals?” That one shift can define the future of your company.

Embracing Data-Driven Decision Making

You’ve probably heard it before: “Trust your gut.” And sure, there are moments when intuition has a role. But in every experience I’ve had, nothing replaces the clarity that data offers. Numbers don’t lie—and they can prevent costly missteps.

Let metrics lead the way

Here’s an example that highlights the impact of analytics. Walmart, a global retail powerhouse, leverages data to perfect its inventory management. Using advanced analytics, they monitor sales patterns and adjust their stocking strategies in real-time, saving billions. Fortunately, you don’t need Walmart’s resources to do the same. Tools like Tableau or Excel can help you translate numbers into actionable insights.

On a smaller scale, I’ve seen businesses in retail use customer purchasing data to refine their product lines, focusing on what customers want rather than making blind guesses. Make no mistake: keeping accurate financial statements is a critical foundation of smart data usage—for decisions grounded in truth, not assumptions.

Real-world wins with analytics

Want more proof? Red Roof Inn tapped into flight cancellation data during bad weather to target stranded passengers with mobile ads. This quick pivot increased their bookings by 10%, all because they trusted the data. That’s the kind of precision I want every business to achieve. Data-driven decision making turns wild guesses into reliable strategies.

Building a Structured Decision-Making Process

When the stakes are high and the options are complex, guesswork won’t cut it. A structured framework brings clarity to even the toughest decisions.

Six thinking hats method

If you haven’t tried the Six Thinking Hats method, let me explain why it’s a game changer. It pushes you to view the issue from multiple perspectives:

White Hat (Facts): What hard data supports this choice?
Black Hat (Caution): What could go wrong here?
Green Hat (Creativity): What’s an innovative way to approach this?

As a creative strategist, I’ve applied this exact tool many times in scaling Complete Controller. For instance, deciding to invest early in cloud technology meant assessing its risks, recognizing its future scalability, and creatively thinking about how it could differentiate us from competitors. Now, we lead the pack in cloud-based financial services.

Strategic decision-making processes like this one allow you to approach problems from every angle, reducing blind spots and risks.

Prioritizing Risk Management

Here’s the truth: risks are unavoidable, but being unprepared for them doesn’t have to be. Risk management is your safety net, ensuring that when surprises come knocking, your business isn’t caught off guard.

Learning from Toyota’s playbook

Take a page from Toyota. After the devastating 2011 tsunami in Japan, the auto giant had a disaster response plan that allowed them to recover faster than competitors. This wasn’t luck—it was deliberate planning.

Start with these three questions:

What could go wrong?
How likely is it to happen?
What’s the potential impact?

Your ability to answer these questions with confidence might just save your business one day.

Leveraging Technology for Enhanced Insight

I often tell business owners to look at technology as their competitive edge. It’s no longer optional; it’s the secret weapon that allows businesses to make razor-sharp decisions.

Game-changing tools

Software solutions like Power BI and Google Analytics can transform how you view your business data. They can highlight performance trends, pinpoint inefficiencies, and even predict future opportunities. Don’t overlook the power of leveraging data for decision making; it’s the tool that draws clarity from chaos.

Optimizing Operational Efficiency

The phrase “work smarter, not harder” might feel overused, but it embodies what operational efficiency is all about. In my 15+ years with Complete Controller, I’ve discovered that even slight process improvements can pay massive dividends.

Streamline with lean practices

Consider companies like Amazon. By refining its supply chain operations, Amazon has become a logistical marvel. On a smaller scale, adopting effective bookkeeping practices is an easy win that frees up your time to focus on growing your business, not scrambling to find missing numbers.

Better systems mean faster decisions and fewer headaches.

Maintaining a Competitive Advantage

Innovation isn’t a “nice-to-have” in today’s business climate; it’s everything. The second you stop evolving, competitors start pulling ahead.

Adapt or fall behind

Remember Blockbuster? While they clung to outdated rental models, Netflix saw the future and seized it. Twenty years ago, I took a similar leap, embracing remote work and the cloud because I believed they would shape the future. Now? Those decisions are why Complete Controller thrives while others scramble to play catch-up.

Final Thoughts

Success in business doesn’t happen all at once. It’s built brick by brick, decision by decision. From embracing strategic planning and analysis to leveraging technology and honing operational efficiency, every choice you make contributes to the big picture.

There’s no reason to wade through uncertainty on your own. Partnering with experts can eliminate guesswork and help you stay ahead. Ready to make smarter decisions and chart the course to long-term success? Reach out to the experts at Complete Controller here—your partner in turning goals into results.

FAQ

What is the importance of data-driven decision-making in business?

Data ensures your choices are based on facts rather than guesswork, allowing for better performance and more innovative strategies.

How do I align decisions with business goals?

Regularly revisit your goals and only take actions that directly support them, trimming unnecessary distractions.

What’s an example of strong risk management?

Toyota’s recovery post-tsunami demonstrates how advanced planning and risk mitigation can protect a business during crises.

Can technology really shape my decision-making?

Absolutely. Tools like Power BI and Google Analytics provide real-time insights that sharpen your strategic focus.

Why is corporate governance important in decision-making?

Governance ensures ethical, legally sound decisions that protect your brand’s reputation and long-term sustainability.

Sources

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.