Decisions, decisions

One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. “Which road do I take?” she asked. “Where do you want to go?” was the cats response. “I don’t know”, Alice answered. “Then”, said the cat, “it doesn’t matter which way you go.”Undoubtedly, the Cheshire cat in the treasured tale of Alice in wonderland made a compelling reasoning on the significance of making decisions.

If you do not determine where you want to go; which road you take becomes inconsequential as it will ultimately take you to someplace or another. Nevertheless, it is highly probable that the place you stumble upon most likely will be a situation that will not be conducive to your success or the success of your organisation.

The characteristics of effective decisiveness is cardinal to the achievement of goals; whether they be personal or professional. Brian Tracy who is an expert in transformation and development of individuals and organisations declared that “decisiveness is a characteristic of high-performing men and women. Almost any decision is better than no decision at all.” I have observed decisiveness to be the ability to choose wisely in a courageous and competent manner and it is a prerequisite trait needed in any leadership position.

Connection between leadership and effective decision making process

The virtue of good leadership requires the capacity to make decisions in the face of ambiguous circumstances. In the complexities of today’s business world Leaders are expected to lead and manage a diverse group of people with varying personalities, work across different cultural perimeters both nationally and internationally and deliver on strategic goals of growth and efficiency. Is it any wonder then that leaders must be decisive if they are to be effective, inspirational and congruent to the objectives of the organisation?

Being decisive can be a very daunting process, especially when the stakes are high. The anxiety of not making the right decision can be immobilising. Can you recall a time when you had to make a difficult decision? I certainly can! I felt a surge of nervousness in the pit of my stomach and I recall wanting to delay the process for as long as possible for the fear of choosing the wrong path.  But we need to feel the fear and choose wisely!

Choosing wisely

Critical thinking plays a crucial role in the ability to choose wisely in the decision making process. The ability to think clearly and logically in a systematic manner is the essence of critical thinking and a big component of the decision making technique.

Characteristics of choosing wisely:

• The ability to analyse, identify and clarify firstly that a problem or an opportunity exists in a rational manner
• Collaborating with others to explore options and collect data
• Considering different perspectives and being flexible and open to different points of views
• Having the capacity to examine the consequences of each action
• Being able to let go of “the way it has always been done” and embrace innovation
• Looking at the bigger picture
• Including key stakeholders in the process
• Having the acumen to communicate effectively

Choosing wisely is not:

• Ego driven and self-serving
• Hesitating out of fear
• Consistently championing for previous experiences of doing things the way they have always been done
• Being presumptuous
• Enlisting a practice of noncooperation from your staff
• Throwing caution to the wind
• Having an attitude of inflexibility

As a leader, whether you are a first time Manager or an Executive, you will be called upon to make difficult decisions in your career often within a tight time-frame. Many decisions will have direct impact on your people and the way you conduct your business and not all your decisions will be favourable but you will need to make them. Douglas MacArthur, who was the Chief of Staff of the United State Army stated that “A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others….”

Making difficult decisions require taking calculated risks and it is as much an art as it is a science. It calls upon a balance of intuition, ingenuity and technical prowess. Do your due diligence and establish alternative choices as Harvard Business Essential suggests that “It is in the absence of alternatives, there can be no genuine decision.” Take ownership of the consequences and be mindful of your emotions throughout the process.

Below I have included a decision making model that is easy to follow and a very useful tool in any decision making process.