Leadership Tip

How to make good decisions faster

A simple approach can help replace your slow deliberations with fast decisions. Try this framework: 

  1. Know your ultimate objective. The biggest hurdle to fast decisions is criteria overload. Of the seven or eight possible objectives you would love to meet, which one or two will make the biggest impact? Consider which stakeholder you least want to disappoint—which goal would they care about most?
     
  2. Get a second opinion. Asking one other person can broaden your frame of reference and help eliminate judgment errors. Plus, the act of explaining your situation anew often gives you fresh insights.
     
  3. Do something. Select one option while letting go of all the other "good" ones. No amount of deliberation can guarantee that you have identified the "right" option, but remember: The purpose of a decision is not choose perfectly, but to get you to the next decision.

The above leadership tip...
was sent in response to a question from a participant on our 10/10 leadership development and mentoring programme and adapted from Make Good Decisions Faster by Nick Tasler. Whether you're a first time manager or an experienced leader, straightforward, practical advice on best practice is hard to find. Until now. To find out how you, your team or your organisation can benefit, please join us on our next complimentary webinar or contact us.

Subscribe

Free weekly email on things you didn't know last week with links to articles on leadership excellence. To view previous editions click here.


Learn how to lead effectively

Gleaned from wisdom acquired by working with hundreds of highly successful leaders from the world of business, media and sport, our workshops are fortified with practical tips to help you better lead yourself, your team and your business.

Read More

Leadership Articles

10 steps to happiness in the workplace

To achieve greater happiness at work, you don't need your boss to stop calling you at night. You don't need to make more money. You don't need to follow your dream of being a sommelier, or running a B&B in the Cotswolds. The biggest obstacle to... read more

10 ways to boost your resilience

Resilience is about being able to cope with tough situations and bounce back from difficult experiences. It can help us better deal with traumatic events or times of considerable stress. It doesn’t mean we’ll never face problems again or that we’ll be... read more

10 remarkable habits to instantly spark a relationship with anyone

The secret of success in business and in life is to build strong relationships with others. The faster you build them, the more success you will find. Success in business - and in life - is all about building relationships and trust. When you're in... read more

Leadership Tips

How to be fit for business

We sit for an average of 9.3 hours a day. A slew of studies have shown just how unhealthy that is, linking it to heart disease, obesity, and cancer. So next time you need to meet with a colleague, don't book a conference room. Take a walk. Aside from the... read more

How to discover how others see you

You may think you already know how others view you - as a skilled facilitator or a manager who always brings out the best in your team - but you might be surprised. To find out what people really think, try these three things: 1. Seek out... read more

How to improve communication with your remote team

It’s not easy to master remote team communication. Team members scramble to figure out how to collaborate without the convenience of being physically present in the same place at the same time. When interacting with colleagues who work remotely,... read more