Decision-making is probably the most difficult task each one of us have to do on an everyday basis. While some of us might consider ourselves to be experts in it, we tend to realise the consequences of a bad decision, only after it is too late. And as important is the decision, it is also equally necessary to decide on 'whom to involve in this all-important process'.
For those of who are opinionated, coming to a decision on own is not a big deal, but for those who are not, taking the help of others and brain-storming with them will be of help.
So here we present to you, the four choices each one can ponder, while deciding on an issue.
The first is the independent option. In this, one is completely dependent on self and need not consult others to take a decision. The biggest advantage of this way is that you need not depend on anyone else, and it also involves a minimum time.
There is also a demerit of the same- that as you are solely responsible for your actions, there is a high risk of failure, and the onus of having to repair things, if gone wrong also lies with you.
The next is the option to be consultative. In this method, you consult others for an opinion, and make your decision based on their inputs. The merits of being consultative is that your horizon expands, and several viewpoints come under scrutiny. The disadvantage being, the probability of offending people with your choices. You cannot please everyone whose opinion you sought.
The third is the ‘group’ way. In this, a discussion is held on the possible consequences of the proposed idea and every one in the group is asked to deliberate on it.
The biggest advantage of this method is that there are no contradictory opinions. For, the decision being a group one, all of you will share the same opinion. The only risk in this option would be the large amount of time consumed in collating the ideas.
The last option is to delegate. Probably the easiest way, but also the choice that involves the maximum risk. In this, you delegate the decision-making work to others, and leave them with the liberty to do so. The catch is however, that you should not interfere in the process, as remember, too many cooks spoil the broth.
In this, an important aspect to be considered is to place complete confidence in the members you have delegated the work to.
Now that we have analysed each of the decision-making methods, it all boils down to which among these would we be choosing. For this all-important consideration, a couple of questions asked to self would help in zeroing the answer.
Some of the possible questions that can be debated upon include the impact of the decision on the company. That is, ask yourself what kind of consequences will your idea have and the positive or negative impact it is likely to have on the organisation’s working. If this is the case, do not rush to conclusions yourself, instead use consultative and group options.
Next, another aspect to be considered before taking the plunge is an analysis of the resources at hand. If it is a simple scenario, then take the decision yourself, that is use the independent way, and see for the results yourself.
On the other hand, if you feel the resources and materials to be used are on a large scale, involve others too. This will reduce the possibilities of error. Here too, go for the group and consultative methods.
Courtesy: www.seapointcenter.com
