Hello and Welcome: In this new series of RapidKnowHow we help leaders to learn and apply leadership skills fast and easy
How do good leaders avoid excessive group harmony?
Good leaders want people to grow and use their potential
They support people telling and defending their opinions
They get people to discuss, evaluate and implement new ideas
Making smart decisions fast in Eight Steps
Source: Harvard Business Press – Making Decisions – Pocket Mentor
The decision-making process consists of eight steps.
Step 1: Setting the stage
Laying the groundwork for successful decision-making
First, determine the participants in the decision-making process
Next, select the decision-making approach. Will you use consensus or vote by majority or another approach?
Then, foster the right climate by encouraging open dialogue by promoting healthy discussions
Step 2: Recognizing Obstacles
Strategies for handling challenges
Anticipate individual biases and group dynamics
Manage group dynamics by making groups and individuals actively shape the decision-making process
Step 3: Framing the Issue at Hand
Advice for identifying an issue’s causes and clarifying objectives and deliverables
Distinguish between symptoms and root causes by performing a root-cause analysis
Articulate and agree on your decision-making objectives and deliverables
Step 4: Generating Alternatives
Develop suggestions for potential actions
After you’ve clarified the issue at hand, brainstorm potential actions
Then generate creative conflict to develop alternative action plans
Get the buy-in and commitment of the group
Step 5: Evaluating Alternatives
Create tactics for the best course of action
Evaluate the feasibility, risk and ethical implications of each possible course of action for the stakeholders
Step 6: Making the Decision
Generating ideas for a final choice
Evaluate your ideas by using the ease of implementation and value-delivered assessment model
Step 7: Communicating the Decision
Suggestions for how to involve and inform stakeholders of the decision
Decide who should be notified of your decision
Communicate your decision through multiple channels
Always evaluate which is the most effective channel for your specific stakeholder group
Step 8: Implementing the Decision
Putting the decision into action
Appoint the project leader
Agree on the task leaders
Draft your project plan
Get approval from your management group
Get started
Conclusion
Throughout the eight-step process for making decisions, you continually assess your decision-making and implementation effectiveness by assessing the quality and timeliness of your deliverables