Hands on Managment

Each day, Donna Thompson, CEO of Chicago-based Access Community Health Network, the nation’s largest network of community health centres, makes countless decisions.

Her ritual of asking questions, brainstorming options, researching outcomes, and evaluating her decisions has served the 48-year-old professional well in making her ascent from registered nurse to the CEO’s seat. Thompson says, “Good decision making isn’t as much about having all the right answers as it is using a process to ask all the right questions.”

According to Dr Spencer Johnson, author of Yes, or No: The Guide To Better Decisions, your status is dictated by your choices. Therefore, you can dramatically enhance your life by following these seven steps to making better decisions.

Determine the decisions you need to make. Carefully evaluate the impact your choices will have on those involved. Consider the pros and cons of your actions so you can effectively communicate them to members of your organisation.

Define the opportunity that requires a decision. Robert Canon, founder of The Canon Advantage, a leadership consulting firm, helps business leaders make better decisions. “Decision making is not a problem-solving activity; but a proactive exercise in constructing a preferred future for yourself and others,” he says.

Identify your desired outcome. From ancient military strategist Sun Tzu to leadership guru Stephen Covey, this principle has been a century-old mandate. In short, figure out the sacrifices and trade-offs you need to make in order to get the results you want.

Research your options. Brainstorm as many possible scenarios as you can. It means doing the due diligence necessary, including consultations with board members and executive staffers to understand how decisions will impact the organisation as a whole.

Choose the option that will best meet your goals and priorities. When making the final decision, go to a mirror, look yourself square in the eye, and ask whether you can live with it. You have to consult your head and heart. Implement your decision. Explains Cannon: “Decisions are only effective when you act on them.” Once you’ve selected a course of action, move on it. Don’t fret or second-guess yourself. Remember that you can always make adjustments to your plan.

Evaluate your decision. Did you achieve your desired outcome? Assess your progress and make necessary changes. Even when an initial decision falls short, it’s important to accept failure, learn from it, and take responsibility. Doing so will help you make better decisions in the future.

How to decide

Suffering from analysis-paralysis. A good decision, executed in a timely manner, will always serve you better than one implemented too late.

Shooting from the hip. Good decisions require time to review options and outcomes as well as the pros and cons. Give yourself a day or more to reflect.

Saving face. This philosophy is highly overrated. By continuing to execute a bad decision, you will probably make matters worse. Reserve the right to be flexible and make necessary changes.