Have you ever been shocked by a property financial report! The information is not what you had expected. Or maybe the pest control company is recommending something totally different than you’ve ever done.

How do you handle it? Ideally you figure out what the new information means and act appropriately. Here are some ways of handling disturbing information:

• Seek to understand the information without going into data analysis/paralysis mode.
• Look at the broader picture and not just a single issue. Focusing on a single reason is easy to do and may only give part of the answer. Instead, look at the “whole” picture which can lead towards long-term solutions.
• Listen to the message and not the messenger. It’s easy to blame the messengers or devalue their opinion because of their personalities.
• Re-examine your existing data. For example, re-examine your Excel spreadsheets to see if formulas are correct. Or examine what practices are changing in the field.
• Look at other issues besides cost. Sometimes cost can overshadow other important issues.

It’s important that you and your team seek differing information. It’s equally important that you and they interpret and manage the implications.