How do we get our heads around all that is going on around us, so we can create powerful ideas, solve problems and make decisions? Effective decision making involves three high performance leadership behaviours: ‘information search’, ‘idea creation’ and ‘flexible thinking’.
These are the ten key steps involved:
Information Search:
- Clearly define the situation or goal.
- Create a value for research and knowledge gathering throughout your team.
- Collect as much information as possible from a board range of sources, from both ‘within’ and ‘outside’ of the situation to get a wide rich viewpoint of what’s going on. Governmental regulations, legal developments, market conditions, economic factors, market research and technological developments can all affect the situation.
Idea Creation
- Form ideas and judgements from the information available. Link in the information from the wider environment to make better sense of the situation. Don’t get bogged down by the details – look at the ‘whole’.
- Involve others to encourage the generation of ideas. Brainstorm all alternatives. Entertain all ideas at this stage.
Flexible Thinking
- Consider at least two viable solutions or options. Hold options in ‘parallel’ not ‘in series’.
- Compare the pros and cons of all solutions simultaneously.
- Consider the consequences and impact of each option. Who does it impact? Is it achievable? Are the timescales realistic?
Decision Time
- Based on your analysis, choose the best possible option, form an action plan and implement your decision. Be specific and set measurable targets.
- Hope for the best, but plan for the worst. Always have a backup plan. Implement a process for continuous review so, if new information arises, you are ready to revise and adapt.