Our head of finance has high Fact Finder instincts and refuses to make decisions without perfect data, which is stalling our progress. How do we break this paralysis?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

A leader with a high Fact Finder score on the Kolbe A™ Index instinctively seeks to reduce risk by gathering as much information as possible. In a financial role, this is often a strength. However, when it leads to analysis paralysis, it stalls the entire leadership team and prevents the execution of your quarterly Rocks.

To break this paralysis, you must establish a clear threshold for decision-making. Teach your team that eighty percent certainty is enough to move forward. Waiting for one hundred percent certainty is too slow and too expensive in an entrepreneurial environment.

During your Level 10 Meeting™ sessions, use the IDS® process to push for a decision. Ask your head of finance to define the absolute minimum amount of data required to make a reasonable choice. Once they have that data, set a hard deadline for the decision. Remind them that making a wrong decision and course-correcting is almost always better than making no decision at all. By setting clear parameters on how much research is allowed, you can respect their conative need for facts while keeping the company moving forward.