Decision Making – Guidelines from Managers

Decision making is a fundamental quality for any manager now days. Every manager and his management method is different, including their decision making style. Each person is a result of all of the decisions made in their life to date. I would like to share some observations from the managers, I met in various workplaces.

When making a decision you are simply choosing from among alternatives. You are not making a choice between right and wrong.

Choosing the right alternative at the wrong time is not any better than the wrong alternative at the right time, so make the decision while you still have time.

Do not make decisions that are not yours to make.

Do your decision making on paper. Make notes and keep your ideas visible so you can consider all the relevant information in making this decision.

Make decisions as you go along. Do not let them accumulate. A backlog of many little decisions could be harder to deal with than one big and complex decision.

Write down the pros and cons of a line of action. It clarifies your thinking and makes for a better decision.

It has been said that a decision should always be made at the lowest possible level and as close to the scene of action as possible. However, a decision should always be made at a level insuring that all activities and objectives affected are fully considered. The first rule tells us how far down a decision should be made. The second how far down it can be made.

As part of your decision making process, always consider how the decision is to be implemented.

Brainstorming alternative solutions with your staff or others will gain fresh ideas and commitment.

Before implementing what appears to be the best choice, assess the risk by asking "What can I think of that might go wrong with this alternative ?"

share your methods..!! Lets discuss more..