We make decisions every day. Some are simple, others are more complex. Sometimes they are so routine that we act without even paying much attention. However, difficult or challenging decisions require more consideration.
When we talk about business, decisions can fail because the best alternatives are not clear from the start, or because some elements are disregarded in the process. To prevent this from happening, you need to outline some strategies together in decision making and problem-solving.
Thinking about it, in this post, we list some tips of what you should consider before making big decisions. Follow!
Create a constructive environment
Decisions can become complex when they involve or affect other people, so it is important to create a constructive environment in which to explore the situation and weigh your options.
Often, when you are responsible for making decisions, you depend on others to implement them. That is if it is more appropriate to decide within a group, conduct a stakeholder analysis to identify who to include in the process.
To build a commitment to other people, make sure that stakeholders are well represented within your group (which ideally is 5 to 7 people).
Analyze the situation in detail
Before you start making decisions, you need to make sure you fully understand the situation. Your goal may be approached in isolation, but there are likely to be several interrelated factors to consider. Changes made in one department, for example, could have repercussions in other sectors, making the change counterproductive.
Start by placing the decision in the context of the problem you want to address. Use the 5-whys technique to determine whether the indicated problem is the real issue or just a symptom of something deeper. You can also use root cause analysis to trace the source of a problem.
Generate good alternatives
The broader the options you explore, the better your final decision will be. Generating many different options may seem to make your decision even more complicated, but the alternatives force you to dig deeper and look at the problem from different angles.
Having more options can help you get out of your normal patterns and come up with some truly innovative solutions for decision making.
Explore your options
When you are satisfied with having a good selection of alternatives, it is time to assess the feasibility, risks, and implications of each.
Almost all decisions involve some degree of risk. Use risk analysis to objectively consider taking a structured approach to assessing threats and the likelihood of adverse events.
The next step is to prioritize the risks that are identified in a probability impact graph so that you can focus on those that are most likely to occur.
Bet on coaching for decision making
Coaching is also an extraordinary tool when the goal is to improve the ability to make decisions. Through its techniques and tools, this method can help the person to identify factors that are blocking his steps and preventing him from assuming his deliberations.
The basis of good decisions is self-knowledge, the individual begins to truly understand himself. From this clear knowledge, you can then develop greater discernment to choose what is best.
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