Consider Worst-Case Scenarios
Are you having a difficult time deciding on whether or not to implement a new data management strategy? Are other staff concerned that what you're about to do is going to have some terribly adverse effect on your members, your association, or your lives? If so, stop and think about the "worst-case scenario."
When I work with clients on their data management issues and a tough decision needs to be made, I'll often ask the question: "If we do this, what's really the worst thing that can happen?"
For example, after having trained other staff on how to change key data like phone, fax, and email, what's the worst thing that can happen if we let them do that and they make a mistake? Will it really cause the collapse of our association if one board member's email address gets messed up? Sure it's embarrassing, and we don't want it to happen, but if it does, what's the worst-case scenario? We apologize to the board member, we fix the email, and life goes on.
Hopefully, the benefit of having more users in the database outweighs the potential negative impact.
So when trying to decide what to do, consider the worst-case scenario.
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