Are you getting stuck?
During a busy working day, you will be required to make many decisions with varying degrees of urgency and importance. Making decisions can be one of the most challenging and satisfying aspects of being a leader or manager, but it can also be one of the most difficult. It is therefore vital to adopt an approach for decision-making that is both efficient and effective. Following these top tips will help you to do this.
Tip tips:
- Identify the decision to be made - what are the core issues or problems and consider how you might be able to resolve them. To do this, you might find it helpful to put your thoughts down on paper or do a quick brainstorm with a colleague or manager.
- Gather sufficient information - you will need to do some research to enable you to consider the situation from several different angles. It can sometimes be tempting to continue seeking more information, rather than getting down to the task of deciding. When you have collected sufficient information, don’t procrastinate; start drawing some conclusions.
- Be honest with yourself - it can be easy to unintentionally allow beliefs and assumptions to influence decision making. You may need to take some more time to consider the decision, or alternatively, you may find it helpful to consult a trusted colleague, who might be able to take a more objective view than you can.
- Accept there will always be some level of risk - with every decision comes an element of risk, and the lowest-risk options are not necessarily the best ones in every situation. It is important to take the risks into account when considering your options, but not to allow the presence of risk to stop you from deciding.
- Don’t lose sight of the bigger picture - even routine, unimportant decisions can have long-term consequences. Take some time to consider what these might be before making your decision and putting it into action.
- Encourage participation from those your decision affects - offering interested parties the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process can be an effective way of gaining their buy-in and support. For sensitive or strategic decisions, this may not always be possible. However, when you can, it is a good idea to offer others the opportunity to engage in the decision-making process, or at least invite their opinion before making your decision.
- Take action - having reached a decision, it is important to implement it promptly. Delaying this unnecessarily could cause you to lose momentum or confidence in your decision. Communicate your decision to the relevant people. This may be face-to-face either in team meetings or in person, or via email. In your communication you should explain what your decision is, why you have made it, and how it might affect the people you are contacting. You should also offer individuals the opportunity to ask any questions they might have.
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