How to take decisions

Leaders of countries and large corporations have to make difficult choices. Some of them are historic. Most of them affect large numbers of people and families. Dramatic decision-making is not restricted to lofty people. Everyone has to make judgments on a daily basis.

It is useful to have a method to take better decisions. What is a better decision? I can think of the following:

a. Transparency: everyone affected by a decision should understand the process and the reasons behind it.

b. Participation: this is related to transparency. Everyone affected should have an opportunity to contribute to the construction of a decision.

c. Considered trade-offs: life is not perfect! There could be downsides to whatever path is finally chosen. A group or an individual probably has conflicting aims in any case. A good decision is an optimal one: it is based on deliberate priorities.

d. Creativity: decisions based on confrontation are unlikely to work. It is better to think of and to evaluate as many alternatives as possible. It helps if this phase is isolated from bias of participants.

e. Recording: an apparently 'good'  decision may not look right in future. There are always lessons from taken decisions. Therefore, the process by which a decision is taken should be recorded in as much detail as possible.

f. Contingency: a decision relates to the future. Therefore, it is based on projections, most of which will not prove to be true. That is why decision-making should dovetail with potential problem analysis. Steps to prevent and to contain serious and probable risks are features of excellent decision-making.

Here is a link for more information on professional decision-making:

http://www.informs.org/Pubs/DA

I have practiced decision-making during my career, based on formal training by my employers. I can help you. Do write in the space below and establish contact.

Here is an exercise to end this post:

The people in the photograph above did not react to the unpleasant news of an interminable flight delay, in the same way. I love the person in the foreground, who is not bothered, and happy to delve in to his newspaper! However, most of us are not so calm. Should we try a train? Will we get something to eat? Can we get a refund? But most of all, what should I do?

What did you do the last time your schedule was seriously upset? How can you prepare for such an eventuality in future?