Breaking It Down: CIA Leads to Better Decisions

By Beth Porter, Four Corners Broadcasting

​Ever have one of those situations that are so overwhelming that you are brought to a standstill? When you’re in a leadership position, this is not a good look! 

One of the more popular models of managing complex situations is the CIA model: Control, Influence, Accept.  The CIA approach takes challenges and breaks them down into more manageable components…with a slight twist.

This model asks you to look at a challenge and break it down three ways: components you can control, those you cannot control but can influence, and those that you need to just accept (or adapt). The CIA model is a way to help you focus energy on where it can make the most impact, and reduce the inherent stress in the situation.
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• Control: what decisions can I make directly that will move this process forward? These can be attitudes, actions or decisions.
• Influence: these are areas where you have no direct control, but can influence various stakeholders who do have control through communication, collaboration, or persuasion, like the actions of others on a team.
• Accept: these could be things like repercussions from past events, weather, regulations, etc.

Looking at problems (or opportunities) through this lens helps focus time, energy and resources where they will do the most good.

When deciding what can be controlled, it helps to review your values and priorities so that your decisions align with them moving forward. Sometimes it feels like little is under your control. However, if you look deeper, here are things we can control: 

• Our emotions
• Expertise/subject knowledge
• How we react to situations
• Our reputation
• Personal choices/decisions
• Relationships with other people
• Interpersonal skills

The amount of influence you have on other stakeholders is often dependent on past relationships with them. If you need a vendor to pivot quickly, is it one that you have a strong relationship with? Are you able to reach their decision-makers and have a conversation that results in their making decisions in your favor?

Acceptance helps reduce the stress and anxiety in a situation from spending time and energy on “If only…,” focusing resources on finding a solution with a clear head.

The CIA model of problem-solving is one more tool that helps build team and business resiliency. It helps create a sense of stability and calm, instead of chaos.

Looking for an immersive experience in leadership development or to develop leadership skills for a team member? Consider Leadership La Plata, an excellent local resource. Check out www.LeadershipLaPlata.org for more information.

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Beth Porter is the Senior Marketing Consultant with Four Corners Broadcasting and an alumna of Leadership La Plata Class of 2015-2016. 
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