subject: Decision Making Skills Essential for career success! [print this page] Decision Making Skills Essential for career success!
Good decision-making is an essential skill for career success generally, and effective leadership particularly. If you can learn to make timely and well-considered decisions, then you can often lead your team to spectacular and well-deserved success. Effective decision-making means you make things happen instead of letting things happen.
The various steps in the decision making process are enumerated below:
Recognize the problem. You must first recognize that a problem exists and that change is needed. Once you see that a problem exists, try to define the problem completely. Big problems must often be broken down into smaller, easier to deal with, components.
Analyze the problem. You must now analyze the problem to make sure you understand all of the issues that are involved. You don't want to resolve a problem to only find out that you addressed a symptom and the root problem still exists. Be specific as possible in your analysis.
Consider your goals. Make sure you factor in the goals that you are trying to achieve. Becoming more aware of your goals and the priorities you place on them will help you see more clearly what is desired.
Look for alternatives. Do not just find the most practical or feasible solution. You will want to find as many solutions as possible so that you can have a number of choices when you make your decision.
Select the best alternative. Analyze each alternative considering the different costs involved. Keep in mind that costs are not only financial. If there is no one best alternative or none at all which seems satisfactory, perhaps a new alternative can be created by compromise, or by combining some of the possible ideas you have.
Put your decision into action. Make the decision and put it into action. Make sure you allocate the proper resources to take action.
Accept the responsibility. You made the decision, now monitor how the resolution to the situation is working. If it does not work, take responsibility and be ready to make another decision. Read More
