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..

Nokia OVI

Are you using your Mobile phone just for the communication with your contacts? Do you want to do more with it useful? Well, Nokia gives an option to use your “NOKIA” mobile device more useful - as an Appointment manager, Birthday reminder, Notes manager and Contacts Database with more detail information such as address, website and others.

I heard your voice – almost every mobile phone around us is having all these facilities – what is the special with Nokia..!!

The common problem with all other phones: Mobile Keypad. Typing content in small mobile keypad is a painful thing – so many of us never use it for detail content typing. We use it for quick small data typing only. Now the Solution: How about using your computer for data entry – that too in a web site – so, no junky download required.

Visit Nokia OVI website (www.ovi.com), register yourself with you mobile information. Now you can create and manage contacts database, Appointments and reminders, also notes for quick information reference. If you have GPRS enabled Nokia mobile device – Go to “Settings”-> “Sync-backup” –> “server Sync” and select your required options – Notes, Contacts, Calendar. The next step will connect with remote OVI site – with your username and password – to sync up whatever you created in remote website. Your Mobile device is fully loaded with required information now. You can use it as an Appointment / Birthday manager, Quick notes manager also a detail contacts manager.

Hope this will help everyone to use their simple mobile device just like any other costly mobile sets.

Why spend in costly mobile devices – go to Nokia simple devices less then Rs. 10,000 and use it as your best content manager.

Who are you?

The question is very simple – but the answer is really a difficult one. I am discussing about how you present yourself in front of someone, some group, and in an organization. I hope many of you crossed this question in interviews – “tell me about yourself”. It is a decent version of our title question, and the answer can be little bit elaborated one, I am sure it is having reasons.

Let’s discuss about a simple version of answering to the question “Who are you?”.

A verbal business card is an ideal solution for this. Basically it’s a verbal sound-bite. It can be used to introduce you with someone or even help employers and contacts understand the type of opportunity you want and the benefits you can provide. It conveys your value and promotes your unique selling proposition.

To build a verbal business card you have to ask these questions to yourself.
1. What is my goal in speaking with this person? (case: introduction)
2. What does this employer need? (case: job interview)
3. What problems do they have, which you can solve? (case: contacts)
4. How you can offer solutions to problems? (case: business promotion)
5. What makes your unique? (case: all above situations)

You must demonstrate your return on investment if an employer was to hire you. In business, the ROI relates to how quickly a business expense can generate revenue.
For example:
If you were hired, how quickly could you generate revenue for the employer?
How quickly could you add to the bottom line by understanding the company’s main motivators?

Your Verbal Business Card, must link your past experience, to the main employer motivators. You also need to emphasize your benefits, instead of features of your qualifications.

Let’s try a simple exercise: Twitter Style Resume – Yes, a resume with 140 Char limit. Try to write your resume with the constraints. You can try two models.
1. One with Name, Qualification, Exp, Profile, Contact, etc (if any) to print – but remember the char limits. This helps you to understand what you have to present at first level.
2. The model two with Name, profile / service introduction, ROI + benefits, - your contact information can be presented at the end.

Try this and communicate with me – let’s discuss more about communication for personal and professional improvements.