It’s wise to evaluate your decision-making process to ensure your decisions have as positive an impact as possible on your business. Consider these suggestions for making decisions which are both well-timed and reflective of company values:
- Avoid the decision-making extremes: Knee-Jerk Reactions (acting too quickly without considering alternatives or all the facts) and Paralysis of Analysis (stalling on a decision with too much analysis and research). Remember that no decision is a “no” decision.
- Involve those who must implement decisions in the decision-making process. Consider the ideas and opinions of those who do the work, because they frequently know best and have a great deal to contribute. In addition, they’ll be more likely to support decisions they help make.
- Become an In-Sync-Erator. Ensure your decisions are in sync with organizational values before you implement them. If there’s a conflict, pursue alternatives that are a better match with stated values.
- When announcing a decision, always explain the reason for it as well as the process used to arrive at it.
SOURCE: Reprinted with permission: 144 Ways to Walk the Talk. Copyright Performance Systems Corp., Dallas, TX.