"There are only two words that will always lead you to success. Those words are yes and no. Undoubtedly, you've mastered saying yes. So start practicing saying no. Your goals depend on it! ~ Jack Canfield
As a leader in your organization you need to have a clear decision-making process. You will need to delegate some decisions to those with more knowledge than you and you will need to take single accountability and responsibility for decisions critical to achieving business goals.
What process can we use for decision-making?
First of all it's important to understand that we all know how to make decisions, but some of us are better than others at making good decisions. Having said that - there are many different ways that we make decisions. If I were to ask you to document the steps you take to make a decision could you do it? Possibly, with some time, but likely it is just second nature.
One of the biggest criticisms people have of leaders within their organisations is that decision-making is slow and/or complex. That has to translate to lower than desired productivity, missed business opportunities and a frustrated organisation.
Have you ever given feedback to someone that they need to make better decisions, or be more decisive, or take more calculated risks etc. I'm sure at some point you have. Were you also then able to back that up with some practical suggestions as to how?
Let's look at a process for decision-making:
1. Define and clarify the issue - does it warrant action? If so, when? Is the matter urgent, important or both? What are the boundaries (scope)? Principles? Success criteria?
2. Determine the roles - e.g. who provides input, who prepares the options, who makes the decision
3. Gather all the facts and understand their causes.
4. Think about or brainstorm possible options and solutions.
5. Consider and compare the pros and cons of each option - consult again if necessary, especially if it has legal, ethical or huge financial implications.
6. Select the best option - One option, specific, not vague.
7. Explain your decision to those involved and affected, and follow-up to ensure proper and effective implementation.
This as you can see, is pretty straight forward, and perhaps similar to a process you use and expect others to use. It's easy enough to teach this process and can help get some consistency in decision-making across your business.
So what about the roles and responsibilities for making decisions?
I like to use he following:
CRAC - Consult, Responsible, Approve, Communicate.
Consult - Contributes to the decision providing advice e.g. options or pro's and con's for options identified, implications etc.
Responsible - Owns the process of gathering the information, laying out the possible options, i dentifies the pros and con's as well as implications.
Approve - The one person who will decide the course of action or option that will be implemented and what will be communicated.
Communicate - Who will communicate, who to, and by when.
Therese Wales is Managing Director of Up to You providing Leadership Coaching and Organizational Change Management Services. For your free excerpt 'Know your Outcome' the first step to creating lasting change go to http://www.up-to-you.com.au/CreatingLastingChange or Email admin@up-to-you.com.au for more information.