Decisions, decisions, decisions. We make hundreds of them every day, from deciding to get up for work, what to wear, what we'll say, do, and feel all day, to what we will have for dinner. We make our tiny and big decisions based on our values and beliefs which drive our emotions which drive our behaviors.
In Robert Frost's poem, "The Road Not Taken," he tells us how he wishes he could travel both of the roads that diverge in the woods, but knows he cannot, and ends the poem telling us he made a decision to take the 'one less traveled by' and that it made all the difference.
"To be or not to be: that is the question." Shakespeare's Hamlet wasn't talking about some minor issue here. He was trying to decide whether the pain of living was better or worse than taking his own life. As he ponders this question, his values, which are steeped in those of Tudor England, win out and instead he dies in a duel defending his values.
Both of these authors were sharing a powerful truth that we too often miss as we make decisions at work and in life. Our decisions speak volumes about us, even if we aren't particularly aware of it. Whether it's deciding to get to work or a meeting on time, buying a new car, changing hair color, spouses, houses, or jobs, you'll find your values close behind every decision you make. And if you aren't aware of that reality, it might be a big "ah-ha" moment when you start to notice.
If you make a decision that puts you in a position that then frustrates you like leaving too late to be on time and then having road rage and blaming slow drivers....remember, that first choice was yours and it made all the difference!
Leaders' decisions impact many other people - the team, the organization, even the world. It all depends on the size of the leader's sphere of influence. That's why making decisions with a smart process matters. And it matters a great deal.
In my experiences coaching leaders and working within many different work cultures, "deciding how to decide" is one thing with which most organizations continue to struggle and one thing that frustrates the leaders and their people continuously.
Here is some good news...there are 5 quick questions that will significantly help you with your process of decision-making. More good news - more often than not, you can answer these 5 questions in 30-60 seconds or less. You may want to create a decision-making matrix or hierarchy to save time with some of the routine ones, but even if you need to chew on it, the time you save by creating clarity up-front will save you huge hassles down the road. And, remember, your decisions are generally value-driven, so it's important to be explicit about which value is driving which decision.
5 Decision Questions
1. What is the decision that needs to be made?
2. Whose decision is it?
3. What method will we use to make the decision?
4. When will the decision be made?
5. How and to whom will the decision be communicated?
If you'd like a bit more depth on each of these questions along with some tips about methods...
READ MORE.And finally...when you have your process sorted out and you are weighing various factors about the decision, it's wise to consider multiple perspectives such as:
- What are the facts we know or need to know?
- What are the possibilities?
- What are the consequences/impact of this decision on THINGS?
- What are the consequences/impact of this decision on PEOPLE?
When you have a good process in place, have tested your decisions against your values, and finally have viewed the decision through multiple lenses, your chances for reaching balanced, well considered, and well understood decisions will rise exponentially.
