Think before you act

We’ve all had those moments. You open a file, ready to work through a consent or compliance issue, and before long, you find yourself sucked into the detail. But sometimes the most effective way to approach the issue is to pause, understand the bigger picture, and get clear on what really matters.

Over the past few months, we’ve been working with teams across the country who are navigating workload pressures, reform updates, and increasingly complex decisions. What has stood out is that when people take a moment to zoom out and get clear on the context first, their decisions become quicker, clearer, and more robust. It’s not about slowing things down. It’s about starting in the right place so everything that follows a good use of your time and effort. So, what does the shift in mindset look like to nail this approach for consenting and compliance matters?

Start with context

Before jumping into the details of conditions or planning assessments, take the time to look at what’s happening on the ground. What are the physical characteristics of the site? What patterns or environmental factors are relevant? What is the actual situation you’re responding to?

Then step back and place that site within its planning context. What zone applies, and what is the intent behind it? What is the activity status? What are the key effects you need to turn your mind to? These early questions set the framing for your work and without this grounding, it's easy to overcook or undercook the key issues at play.

Understand your discretion

Once the context is clear, the next question is: what are you actually allowed to consider?

Whether you're responding to a breach, preparing a recommendation, or advising on a development, your discretion defines the scope of your role. If your discretion is limited, keep the focus narrow and relevant. If it’s broad, you can take a wider view, but even then, being clear about what you're weighing up based on that important context framing will make your work sharper and more strategic.

Be proportionate

Finally, once you understand the context and your discretion, take a breath and ask: how much time and effort does this issue really deserve?

Does the matter challenge core outcomes in the planning framework, or is it a technical gap with minimal impact? Does it require a deep dive, or will a light-touch approach achieve the same result?

These questions should be front of mind at all times and the impact of adopting these simple questions into your mindset can not be underestimated. I guarantee that it will help make better use of your time and have massive benefits for the organisations you work in.

Figure 1. Brighta’s thinking process

Looking ahead

This isn’t about cutting corners. It’s about doing the work with more clarity, purpose, and confidence. We’ve seen how this thinking process helps teams structure their approach, sharpen their focus, and feel more in control, especially when the pressure is on. It leads to better decisions, more consistent practice, and fewer cycles of back-and-forth.

We’ll continue using this thinking process in our training and projects. It’s not just about improving individual decisions. It’s about creating more purposeful, aligned, and resilient resource management practice across the board.

Amanda de Jong – June 2025