The Essentials Of Decision Making

Decision-making is something that happens throughout our day but with different degrees of importance, urgency and consequential outcomes.

The important points are:
• Understand the real objectives
• Know the situation
• Be in control
• Carry out analysis using appropriate tools
• Present findings logically
• Select an option
• Do it!

The Benefits of Effective Decision-Making

By following a robust procedure and applying thought and logic to your decision-making process you should be able to make decisions that are:
• Inclusive – take into account the interests of all affected parties
• Defensible – based on the key points and then weighted and prioritised taking into account the relevant values
• Optimal – in both terms of results and in addressing problems
• Sensible – and understandable to interested parties
• Implementable – differentiate between rational and non-rational as well as rationalised
• Value-adding – to the organisation or individual

Success comes from the quality of the decision itself as well as the robustness of implementation or application.

Tips

• Once you have finished your deliberations, make the decision quickly – circumstances may change or you may lose momentum.

• Don’t sacrifice long-term gain for short-term expediency.

• Understand the differences between important and urgent – the latter requires a rapid decision, but important decisions may require more protracted analysis. An urgent and important decision needs the right level of analysis to enable the optimal decision to be made.

• Remember, people generally support decisions in which they have participated.

• Do not postpone important but non-urgent decisions – set your own deadlines and do not let them be imposed on you.

• If a decision is no longer appropriate, change it – but in a measured manner, not with a knee-jerk reaction.

• If you need help, get it.

Jonathan Farrington is the Managing Partner of The jfa Group.