Understanding Your Decision-making Process

“In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” – Theodore Roosevelt

How can you and I possibly use this leadership quote?

Do you have a great decision-making process? Do you actually know what your decision-making process is?

You and I have always known that there is more to our gut instinct than we give credit. A lot of recent research is leading us in the direction that our subconscious makes decisions and then our conscious and highly developed rational brain justifies them. Consequently, there are several other quotes on leadership that express this idea. For most of the decisions which we take in the course of a normal day, it’s fine to rely on this huge background computer.

So, when I need to decide whether to have muesli or toast for breakfast, I’m sure you can believe me when I tell you I don’t sit down with a piece of paper and look at the various pluses, minuses and interesting points which I am likely to come across depending on the decision I have taken.

Systematic?

Having said that, do you have a systematic process when you need to arrive at a rational business decision over a period of time and working with others? If you only rely on gut instinct, then, depending on what is made up your experience and knowledge, you may have a knack of taking the right decisions.

Some would argue that this is specifically a trait of a good and experienced leader. However, you can also be sure that most great leaders and good, experienced managers have a process which will not only rely on their gut. The really good ones will know and understand that process.

A great investment

If you can’t readily sit down and formally state your decision-making process, a great investment of time for you will be to sit down for half an hour and give it some proper thought. Look back on those decisions you have taken in the past and make a note of what was good and what was bad.

Over the next few weeks, make a note when you reach decisions and work on analysing your process. Review your decisions over a period of time, look back on them and decide which ones have worked well and how you arrived at them.

Trust your gut and combine

Trust your gut and combine that with analysing your process so that you better understand yourself and you will find yourself progressively making better decisions. Books and quotes about leadership and decision making can help you if you aren’t willing to invest in a proper examination of the way you yourself do things, find out what’s wrong and make the necessary changes.

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