Do you ever get that feeling that something just isn’t right? That feeling when even though there is no definite proof that the feeling is justified, you just know that something is just off. Recently I was faced with a situation where something just didn’t seem right. But, in the world I work in, there are no gray areas. Either something is, or something is not. I know I’m being a little vague. So, before I continue on that tip, let me give you an example.
Some of the services we offer our clients include collecting and verifying the certificates of insurance of our clients’ subcontractors, contractors and vendors. With that, it is very black and white. Does the business have a minimum of $1,000,000 of general liability insurance coverage? Yes. Does the business have general liability insurance coverage per project? No. See what I mean? Black and white, no gray area there.
However, when I got that feeling, I was reminded of the one thing that no black and white result on any of our screening reports will ever be able to do.
Risk Management Tip of the Month: Listen to your gut.
We all have it. That 6th sense that is inside each of us, our intuition, our “gut” that should be listened to, no matter what statistics or other black and white data tell you. Even though you might be defying logic, sometimes you will get that feeling that something is off. Don’t make the mistake of ignoring it.
How does this mitigate risk? Well, ever thought of working with someone, or hiring someone to be a consultant or a personal trainer when you had that feeling that something wasn’t right and dismissed it. I’ll bet you were right, and if you haven’t by now, you will know soon that the decision you made and the consequences of not listening to yourself could have been avoided. I have had consequences that have cost time and money to undo what could have been avoided altogether.
Now, in certain business scenarios, you might not always be able to justify to your boss, or your employees, or your clients as to why you are or are not doing something. But chances are they have made some decisions based on that feeling as well. Trust me on this, and trust yourself.
