Every business owner has to make tough decisions with uncertain outcomes. That is the nature of the job. Making a decision is one of the most powerful acts for inspiring confidence in leaders and managers. Yet many bosses are sometimes squeamish about it. Some decide not to decide, while others simply procrastinate. Either way, it's a cop-out -- and doesn't exactly encourage inspiration in the ranks.
Learn how to make better decisions. You'll be viewed as a better leader and get better results overall. Here are some tips for making quicker, more calculated decisions:
1. Stop seeking perfection.
Many great leaders would prefer a project or report be delivered only 80% complete a few hours early than 100% complete five minutes late. Moral of the story: Don't wait for everything to be perfect. Instead of seeking the impossible, efficient decision makers tend to act without all the answers.
2. Create a constructive environment.
For successful decision making, make sure you establish an objective, involve stakeholders, hear others opinions, and ask the right questions.
3. Expect the Unexpected
No matter how much analysis and planning you do, you cannot predict the future. Things happen so your plans should be flexible enough that you can adapt to the unexpected, without throwing everything off course.
4. Seek out help when you get in over your head.
If you think you know everything, you are doomed to fail. If you don’t have the time or resources to delve into a particular issue, or don’t have the technical background, or just want a second opinion, then by all means bring in outside experts to help you.
5. Don't problem solve, decide.
A decision can solve a problem, but not every problem can be solved by making a decision. Instead, decision making often relies more on intuition than analysis. Deciding between vendors, for instance, requires examining historical data, references and prices. But the tipping point often rests with your gut. Which feels like the right choice?
6. Communicate Your Decision, and Move to Action.
Once you've made your decision, it's important to explain it to those affected by it, and involved in implementing it. Talk about why you chose the alternative you did. The more information you provide about risks and projected benefits, the more likely people are to support the decision.
An organized and systematic decision-making process usually leads to better decisions. Without a well-defined process, you risk making decisions that are based on insufficient information and analysis. Many variables affect the final impact of your decision.
I hope these few ideas help improve your approach to decision making in your business. Please let me know your thoughts. gerry@polarisgroupmc.com
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