Five Tips for Making Better Decisions. . .
Being able to pull the trigger is one
of the benefits of being your own boss, but some entrepreneurs are still gun
shy.
Making a decision is one of the most powerful acts for inspiring
confidence in leaders and managers. Yet many bosses are squeamish about it.
Some decide not to decide, while others simply procrastinate. Either
way, it’s typically a cop-out -- and doesn’t exactly encourage inspiration in
the ranks.
To avoid pining over what to do and what to skip, it can help to learn
how to make better decisions. You’ll be viewed as a better leader and get
better results overall. Here are five tips for making quicker, more calculated
decisions:
1.
Stop seeking perfection- Many great
leaders would prefer a project or report be delivered only 80% complete a few
hours early than 100% complete five minutes late. Moral of the story: Don’t
wait for everything to be perfect. Instead of seeking the impossible, efficient
decision makers tend to leap without all the answers and trust that they’ll be
able to build their wings on the way down.
2.
Be independent - Good decision
makers are “collaboratively independent.” They tend to surround themselves with
the best and brightest and ask pointed questions. For instance, in a discussion
with subject-matter experts, they don’t ask: “What should I do?” Rather, their
query is: “What’s your thinking on this?” Waiting for committees or an
expansive chain of command to make decisions could take longer. Get your
information from credible sources and then act, swiftly.
3.
Turn your brain off- Insight comes when you least expect it.
Similar to suddenly remembering the name of an actor that you think you'd just
plumb forgotten. The same happens when you’re trying to make a decision. By
simply turning your mind off for a while or even switching to a different
dilemma, you’ll give your brain the opportunity to scan its data bank for
information that is already stored and waiting to be retrieved.
4.
Don’t problem solve, decide- A decision
can solve a problem but not every problem can be solved by making a decision. Instead, decision
making often relies more on intuition than analysis. Deciding between vendors,
for instance, requires examining historical data, references and prices. But
the tipping point often rests with your gut. Which feels like the right choice?
5.
Admit your mistakes- If your feelings
steered you wrong, correct the error and fess up. Even making the wrong
decision will garner more respect and loyalty when you admit you’ve made a
mistake and resolve it than if you are habitually indecisive.
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