Taking too many risks is dangerous for your own and your organization’s survival. But taking none is just as lethal. Discover how you can find the right balance.
Based on
You are what you risk Michele Wucker (Pegasus Books, april 2021).
1. Create an environment that is conducive to informed decisions
Build yourself living and working conditions that send positive messages to your brain:
Design a day-to-day environment where you feel good. Think about every detail: the lighting and luminosity, colors, music, temperature. This isn’t a luxury – it’s absolutely essential!
Make sure you give yourself enough time to recover, rest, and eat. Postpone any key decisions if you’re sleep-deprived or haven’t eaten.
Manage your overall “risk portfolio.” Identify the security fallbacks in your life (your partner or family, a friendship, leisure activity, etc.): This will give you the freedom to take more risks elsewhere. Avoid taking risks on all fronts at the same time.
Surround yourself with a frank and supportive peer group that can give you honest feedback when you’re having a hard time assessing a situation. And accept the fact that they may tell you things you don’t necessarily want to hear.
Marianne graduated from HEC in 1998 and is now a freelance journalist specializing in management and higher education. What really fires her up is the human dimension and she is c taking a psychology course at Rennes 2 University.
