Make Better Decisions!

Recently I observed a prospective client make a poor decision with far-reaching consequences.  Even now, having experienced the repercussions of this decision, he still defends his position.  The fundamental issue was about the deployment of his fleet.  The result was idled employees due to a lack of transportation.   His justification was the cost of gasoline and a driver to move workers to different job sites.  I could not have been more shocked having witnessed this situation.  Productivity and cash flow were lost or delayed.  More importantly, he created angst and resentment among his team members.  Not a good thing.

He decided to allow a vehicle to remain idle at a job site.  Its only purpose was to move people and their tools.  This truck was not available to transport other workers to active job sites.  The ultimate irony was that the vehicle in question had a flat tire.  It was out of service, creating additional problems at the end of the workday.  I can’t help but think that it was poetic justice.

Wrong decisions can take on a life of their own. They seem to spawn other unnecessary problems diverting management’s attention and in sub-optimal use of time and resources. Share on X

We all know people perpetually fighting problems big and small.  Personal and professional.  One person I know is always misplacing car keys and cell phones, among other things.  It would be an easy fix if she followed the “a place for everything and everything in its place maxim.” This weakness is a minor issue, but it’s only the beginning of more significant problems she creates for herself.  Yes, she is a victim of bad habits and more.  Her bad habits bleed over into her decision-making process, creating even more significant issues, which steal precious time and resources.  Poor decision-making habits result in lost productivity, profitability, and morale.

You should view this post as a wake-up call!  It is easy to fall into a pattern of casual decision-making, leading to suboptimal, or worse, disastrous results.  I do not mean to offer specific processes or tools, as ample information is available on how to make decisions for a wide range of situations.  I want to remind you to create a habit of using a structured decision-making process to achieve better outcomes.

Basic decision-making process

1. 1. Describe the situation
   2. List factors to consider
   3. Determine key constituents to be affected
   4. List and evaluate alternatives
   5. Select the best outcome
   6. Develop a plan of action, including a communications plan
   7. Execute
   8. Assess and evaluate results

Making good decisions is a habit!  Find a process that works for you and employ it consistently.  The above eight steps present a basic decision-making framework.  However, it does not list a “gut-check” as a part of the process.    I do not recommend making decisions based on “gut feel” alone; however, before making a call, check your gut.  This step has never let me down!  I like to include a gut check toward the end of my process.  It has forced me to review my process and reassess my assumptions.  Finally, always review to determine how you can improve the quality of your decisions.  For more on this subject, I suggest you refer to other articles I have written about developing helpful and productive habits.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of my work is helping clients and colleagues improve their decision-making.  It stimulates my intellectual and creative abilities.  My interest in making better decisions is born from my early career as a financial analyst and strategic planning executive.  Today, my clients are eager to learn new techniques to improve their decision-making abilities.  They enjoy the satisfaction of better results from the successful execution of their decisions.  Create a decision-making habit for better results and a happier life.

For more information on making better decisions refer to the articles linked below.

https://www.betterup.com/blog/how-to-make-better-decisions

https://www.verywellmind.com/habits-for-better-decision-making-4153045?print

https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_00.htm

 

Thank you for visiting our blog.

 

Jim Weber – Managing Partner,  ITB Partners

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