Make Better Decisions As A Manager – A 6 Step Framework

Good decision making for managers is important to build trust, a reputation for competence, and to progress your career. The decisions made by managers and leaders can quite literally make or break - projects, careers, and businesses.  As a result consistent, good decision making at work really does matter.  To help increase the quality of the decisions you make, I want to share a really useful 6 step decision making process with you.  Good decision making as a manager is significantly improved by following a decision making process, especially for those complex or important decisions.  I have seen time and time again; managers and teams jump straight into solution mode when confronted by a problem without really taking the time to fully understand the problem or make sure they have the full picture. Dig into the detail can be an important first step in a good decision making process. Next, when decision making in management it is very useful to define the goal of the decision. What exactly needs to be achieved from the decision that you are making? Be specific with your goal.  When you are clear on the problem and the goal of the decision, then explore your options. I have included 6 questions to ask yourself to improve decision making skills and the options you create.  Deciding which is the right option rather than the most acceptable option is a hard step in making decisions.  And then finally, how you communicate your decision to those affected by your decision will determine in part how effective the implementation of your decision will be.  Enjoy good decision making at work!