Types of decision making
Different approaches for different situations
A decision is just a simple choice to make, right?
Well, there are in fact different types of decision making approaches depending on the circumstance and situation surrounding the choice that has to be made.
Yes, of course the end result is a choice that you need to take. Take a step back from the final choice and think about how you're going get there.
It's the path to that choice that can vary according to circumstances. So, whilst some types of decision making may be completely suitable for one situation, they can be utterly lacking if you apply them to another.
There's a whole difference between making a choice in your personal life that only effects you as an individual, as opposed to a choice in the workplace that effects your employees, clients or business.
Let's take a brief look at the different kinds of situations.
Deciding for yourself
It should be relatively straightforward to make a choice for yourself on an individual basis. After all, you most likely only need to consider your own circumstances and how the outcome of your choice will effect you personally.
Sounds simple, doesn't it? True, unless you lack the self confidence to make that choice.
Whereas a confident decision is characterised by a purposeful resolve followed with positive steps to see the choice through, the unconfident decision is accompanied with questioning and dithering, and is often followed with excuses to justify why the choice hasn't yet been followed through.
Business management
When you need to be making business decisions a whole different set of wider considerations come into play. It's all about what value or saving your choice will add to the business. How will it effect your employees, colleagues and the business as a whole?
Success in business demands the self-confidence to take responsibility and demonstrate leadership, assess the situation and make choices quickly. This is no place for dithering.
Team work
Where projects or separate areas of work are the responsibility of dedicated teams, there may be a designated team leader, or even shared leadership. In an ideal world, the team is heading collectively in the same direction with united purposes and effortlessly makes choices.
You'll most likely know from your own experience that team decision making is often far removed from this ideal. Having the confidence to steer the team past the challenges of individual rivalry to get to the point of taking a choice is key to this type of decision making.
Grouping it together
Think about a time when you've been a member of a group that's had to make a choice. Did the members all have the same agenda, expected outcomes or equal weight within the group?
Where a group decision making process is concerned, each member needs the self confidence to deal with the different directions the group may be pulled.
With these types of decision making, the collective choice can have far reaching effects and consequences. The group will have to consider factors that may be of critical importance to one member, but are not even on the radar for another.
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