8
Questions That Can Help You Make Better Decisions At Work
Ask
yourself eight key questions to figure out when it’s best to shoot from the hip
versus take your time to come to the right conclusion.
You
are faced with tons of decisions every day. Sometimes, you need to think
quickly and make an immediate call, while other times, it’s more prudent to
push the pause button and give the matter more thoughtful consideration.
However,
the best option in any given situation isn’t always crystal clear, and may vary
depending on issues like the community or work culture or even your mood.
Before you make the wrong call, consider these eight questions to help you
figure out when it’s best to make a decision on the fly and when you should
take your time.
First,
you have to know yourself, says Sarah
Faulkner,
principal of Faulkner Strategic Consulting. Some people might be extroverts who
tend to think and act quickly, while others may be more introverted and prefer
to gather information and think through their options before issuing their
verdict. Having a good sense of your own style can also help you see if you’ve
fallen into a decision-making rut, she says.
Look
at your track record. Perhaps you have a history of making decisions one way
and have found that you made a few cringe-worthy missteps by acting too
quickly, or missed some key opportunities by taking a slower approach, or fell
victim to "analysis paralysis." If your approach isn’t working for
you, it may be time to switch it up, says Patrick Mulvey, CEO and managing
director of the Center for Strategy Execution.
"That
way, you kind of force yourself in a way to make more prudent decisions by
giving yourself a time, or not giving yourself too much time," he says.
It’s
not a bad thing to be emotional, especially about something that’s important to
you, but strong emotion can skew your judgment and decision-making skills, says
John Manning, founder of MAP Consulting. Being
enthusiastic might not have much impact, but negative emotions like anger,
fear, or anxiety can have a negative impact and often signal that it’s
best to take some time and let a cooler head prevail.
"From
our experience, a lot of the worst decisions managers, leaders, and
entrepreneurs make is when they're angry or upset," he says.
Sometimes,
your experience and comfort with the subject matter let you know immediately
how to approach a challenge or decision, Manning says. If your experience tells
you the right course of action, and your track record backs up the fact that
your intuition is reliable, that’s an indicator that you’re on the right course,
he says.
Another
consideration is whether your decision needs buy-in from other people, Manning
says. In that case, you’ll likely want to take more time and get feedback from
others before you move forward. It’s easier to get people to support a
decision, program, or initiative if they feel as though they’ve had some say in
how it moves forward and what its outcome is.
Faulkner
advises considering the environment in which you’re making the decision. If
you’re routinely the slow thinker in a culture that values quick decision
making, you could be putting yourself at a disadvantage. Similarly, if you’re
in a group that admires preparation and detail-oriented analysis, you’re not
doing yourself any favors when you regularly fly by the seat of your pants.
You
also need to weigh the risk in any given situation. Low-risk situations may not
need more time and resources. But risk cuts both ways—you may risk missing an
opportunity or giving the wrong impression if you take too long to make your
decision or find that you’ve made the wrong call if you try to rush it,
Faulkner says. Looking at the benefits and drawbacks of each approach can lead
you in the right direction.
Manning
also advises looking at how vital the decision is to the bigger picture. If it
relates to one of your "vital few," those core issues that drive your
most important results, such as core strategies, planning, or team performance,
then it’s usually a good idea to make more thoughtful decisions. Such issues
are often multifaceted, and you’ll need to consider several aspects before
making a call, he says.
By Gwen
Moran
http://www.fastcompany.com/3044795/work-smart/8-questions-that-can-help-you-make-better-decisions-at-work
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