Framing Makes the Art of Decision Making

My parents live down the street from a huge picture framing operation. They turn wood molding and glass into museum-quality art. I am sure they advise their clients to pick the right frame for the art that is brought into their shop. Posters from the drug store go into poster frames with plexiglass protection. Oil originals go into more ornate frames. Modern art in sleek designs. Classic landscapes in carved frames.

The decisions that are made about frames are derivative from the art acquisition decision. But that doesn’t have to be the case.

Interior designers often start with the “frame.” They knew the size of the art piece and how they want to present it in the environment. They know the wall they are trying to embellish (including its size and strength), they know the style of the room, and they know what success would look like in the actual environment. It is only then that they go to work to find the right art to fit that frame.

Decisions in a business context are often more like the work of a designer than a framer. You have to frame your decisions properly before you make them. The frame of a decision is the deep understanding of problem you are trying to solve; the question you are seeking to answer.

Albert Einstein, the world famous physicist, is credited with this advice: “If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first 55 minutes determining the proper question to ask…for once I know the proper question, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes.”

Really understanding the customer problem, the investment context, and the capabilities of your organization will allow you to ask the right questions and get to a well-made decision. In the art of decision making, starting with the right frame can get you there faster.