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.

Dont 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.

Copyright 2006 Jonathan Farrington. All rights reserved

Jonathan Farrington is the Managing Partner of The jfa Group. To find out more about the author or to subscribe to his newsletter for dedicated business professionals, visit: http://www.jonathanfarrington.com

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