When faced with your next big decision, be sure to use the 10-step checklist to ensure the best course of action is taken. Further information can be found about each step in Leadership Direct.
Action Checklist
- Be clear about the scope of the decision you are faced with
- Consider the potential impact of the decision and how this will be evaluated
- Decide who needs to be involved in the decision making process
- Define the issue to be decided and collect relevant information
- Take account of uncertainty
- Gather appropriate contributions
- Use decision making tools which fit the situation
- Watch out for biases and common psychological traps
- Communicate the decision and act on it
- Monitor and learn from the outcomes
Potential Pitfalls
Managers should avoid:
- excluding those who should be involved in decision making
- information overload – trying to consider every piece of available information before making a decision
- analysis paralysis – thinking over a decision so thoroughly that you miss opportunities
- failing to recognise common biases in your thinking that might skew decision making.
MORE RESOURCES ON DECISION MAKING
Here are other useful references to help with your decision making:
- GUIDELINES: The 6 do’s and don’ts of decision making
- OPINION: Jane Caro gets us thinking about the value of decisiveness
- WEBINAR: Critical thinking for problem solving and decision making
