Decision Making

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Less Skilled

• Approaches decisions haphazardly or delays decision making.

• Makes decisions based on incomplete data or inaccurate assumptions.

• Ignores different points of view or makes decisions that impact short-term results at the expense of longer-term goals.

More Skilled

• Makes sound decisions, even in the absence of complete information.

• Relies on a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment when making decisions.

• Considers all relevant factors and uses appropriate decision-making criteria and principles.

• Recognizes when a quick 80% solution will suffice.

Very Skilled

• Decisively makes high-quality decisions, even when based on incomplete information or in the face of uncertainty.

• Actively seeks input from pertinent sources to make timely and well-informed decisions.

• Skillfully separates opinions from facts.

• Is respected by others for displaying superior judgment.

Over Skilled

• Applies an overly rigorous or methodological decision process to all issues, even where experience and intuition can work equally well.

• Is overly confident about own decision-making capability; reluctant to delegate decision making to others or hesitant to involve others when generating solutions.

Potential Issues

• Undervalues relevant data. 

• Goes too fast or too slow. 

• Avoids including others. 

• Unaware of own biases. 

• Not objective. 

• Limited use of analytic tools. 

• Conflict averse. 

• Doesn’t consider consequences. 

• Seeks perfection.

Resource List

1. Stop Worrying About Making the Right Decision (HBR Article)

2. How Are Great Decisions Actually Made? (Forbes Article)

3. 15 Ways to Make Much Better Decisions (Forbes Article)

4. Preventing 'Analysis Paralysis' (Bloomberg Article)

5. How to Minimize Your Biases When Making Decisions (HBR Article)

6. Decision Making: 5 Steps to Better Results (Amazon Book)

7. Think on Your Feet: 10 Steps to Better Decisions (Amazon Book)

8. Decision Making Deconstructed (TED Talk Video)

9. Why We Make Bad Decisions (TED Talk Video)

10. Before You Decide: 3 Steps to Better Decision Making (TED Talk Video)

11. How to Make Hard Choices (TED Talk Video)

12. How to Make Faster Decisions (TED Talk Video)