If you want to be successful, you have to be a good decision maker. Making decisions can be tough when you know the decision will have a big impact on your life or business. However, many people are struggling with indecisiveness even when it comes to smaller things in life. Time-consuming decisions can be very draining and hold you back from getting things done. Luckily there are ways to become a better decision-maker. This article will go through a decision making process, which you can use in order to make decisions faster and easier.
The Decision Making Process – From identification to implementation
- Identify a problem or opportunity
The first thing you want to do when making a decision is to identify the problem or opportunity you want to address. How will this decision affect the problem or opportunity you are facing? Who will be affected by your decision? Do you have to take others into consideration?
- Gather information
Gather the information you need in order to make the best decision. Start by considering the decision in the context of the problem it is intended to address. Find only relevant information and eliminate the rest. Think about what information you need in order to make the right decision. Do you know anyone who can help you make the right choice?
- Analyze the situation
Analyze where you are at the moment and where you want to go. Will this decision take you a step closer to where you want to go in the future? Are there other courses of action available? Explore how the other options would address the problem.
- Develop options
The wider the options you explore, the better your final decision will be. Creating several alternatives may seem to complicate the decision at first, however the act of generating different options forces you to look at the problem from several angles. It will help you explore and identify the root of the problem. Be creative and positive when developing options and keep an open mind to the different alternatives.
- Evaluate alternatives
After you have created a good selection of realistic alternatives, you should evaluate the feasibility, desirability, risks and implications of each one. Consider the potential consequences of each of your options. Explore the options that will meet your goals in the best possible way. Other considerations are whether you have adequate resources and whether the decision is likely to work in the long run.
- Select a preferred alternative
Select the best alternative and explore the outcome of that option. Investigate your chosen alternative to be sure that you have done thorough research in order to make the best decision. Will this option take you where you want to go? Are there any risks involved that you have not taken into consideration? Can the option create any unforeseen problems? Discuss the decision with the people it will affect in order to make sure it is the right alternative.
- Act on the decision
Implement the decision once you are sure you have chosen the right alternative. Communicate your decision to everyone who will be affected by it in a positive and inspiring way. Let people know the reasons behind your decision. The more information you provide about risks and benefits of the decision, the more likely people will be to support it. Show people that you are committed to make the decision work!
- Always have a back-up plan
Plans are made up of both constants and variables. Great leaders know that sometimes the variables work against you and you might have to take another direction. Make sure you have a contingency plan in case the decision does not work to your advantage.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.