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Being truly objective is more difficult than you might imagine. To look at something from a purely practical and factual perspective can take considerable self-discipline and experience. But with different personalities, practices and habits prevalent in the workplace, being objective is essential for credible decision-making.
What Is Objectivity and Why Is It So Important?
Objectivity means making a judgment based on fact, and not allowing your personal preferences to get in the way of good decision-making. It’s an important skill because it ensures you make choices or decisions for the right reasons. Also, someone who might not agree with your final decision will find it harder to quarrel with the actual thinking that helped you make it. Obviously, your opinion counts, but only if you’re using it to make rational and appropriate decisions.
I Find It Hard to Be Objective – How Do I Get Started?
A practical approach is what’s needed. Ask yourself the following:
- What needs to be done?
- What are the criteria?
- What are the pros and cons of each option?
With these questions answered, you’ll find it easier to sit down and make your choices from an unbiased perspective.
Where Do I Go From There?
Once you’re clear about the desired outcomes it’s easier to evaluate your options. Follow these tips to help you make the best choice:
- Try not to make snap first judgments about people or circumstances. You can’t make a completely objective decision until you have all the facts.
- Use the skills and experience of others. Ask for advice or opinions, and use them as part of your overall decision-making process.
- Talk to your team (if applicable) to establish where their knowledge and talents will be best suited.
- Just because you don’t agree with something, it doesn’t make it wrong. Different people have different ideas, and it’s this combination that can make for a more interesting workplace. The question you might want to ask yourself is, ‘Will this achieve the desired outcome?’ and make your decision from there.
How Does Objectivity Work in Practice?
We’ve detailed a scenario below for you. It involves a manager who is recruiting a new team member. Although it’s a specific situation, the practical thinking they use to ensure objectivity can be applied to most circumstances:
- The manager starts by establishing an aim: to recruit an effective new team member.
- She details the skills and experience that are needed to do the job well. This helps her to focus on the key criteria for selecting the best candidate.
- She reviews each candidate’s application against the criteria to get an overall sense of their fit for the role. Before she meets any of the candidates she has, therefore, already started to apply objectivity.
- The first candidate comes in for an interview, and the manager is immediately impressed by their appearance and self-confidence. The manager makes a note and will consider this as part of her selection criteria. She is careful not to allow herself to be influenced by the immediate rapport she has with the candidate.
- The manager begins the interview, and asks the carefully worded questions she has prepared in advance. The candidate is asked for explanations and examples of how they have performed in the past, and what they can offer the position.
- At the end of the interview, the manager rates the candidate’s performance against the criteria. She follows the same procedure for each of the other interviews. Once all candidates have been seen, she reviews their performance ratings and is able to objectively choose her new team member as the one who has scored the highest.
