The Fine Art of Decision Making

(excerpt)


At the very heart of being a great and effective leader is the mastery of an invaluable and necessary skill: making sound judgment calls which result in beneficial decisions. Without practicing and perfecting this ability, the one in the leadership position will never realize his or her full potential in the position they are in, or in any position above it.


Leaders who play an integral and productive role as they stand are able to remain calm, keep their thoughts in order, and push any temptation to react with emotion aside. They are able to make a quality decision under pressure and in the face of questionable circumstances without doubting themselves or second-guessing the choice they make. They remain consistently constant, even when the situation being dealt with appears to be nothing but chaos. They observe, assess, decide, and follow through to the end.


When taking leadership and decisions into joint consideration, it is easy to notice the fact that there are those in positions of authority who simply do not possess the skills it takes to make effective judgments and choices. On the flip side, others seem to not only make decisions with ease, they do it well, applying wisdom, considering the potential outcomes, and acting accordingly. A leader of quality has already mapped out his life and career strategy, and is working at it consistently. They are prepared to handle the dilemmas which present themselves, and they have practiced using a calm affect to their advantage. They have designed a solidified a blue print and are applying methods daily to stay within the structure intended.



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TABLE OF CONTENTS


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The Art of Making Superior Judgment Calls


Aspect I: Sources


Educated Knowledge of Stakeholders


Draw in Members of the Board for Training & Workshops


Contribute to your Community while Conducting Business


Consider Human and Environmental Capital


Get your Council in on the Action


Training Academies and Seminars


External & Internal Stakeholder Council


Groups in the Community


Customers or Clients


Groups with Special Interest


Supply Providers


Agencies which Establish and set Regulations


Those Partnering Corporately


Associations with other Industries


Those with Investment Interests


Union Organizations


Aspect 2: Time


Step 1: Preparation


Step II: Making the Call


Step III: The Follow Through


You must have Exceptional Integrity & Profound Courage


The Use of Visualization when making Decisions


You will Encounter “Re-dos”


Aspect III: Area of Domain


Strategic Judgment Calls


Tell a Great Story


Where are we at now?


Where do we want to go?


What method of transportation are we using to get there?


Be “Teachable”


Gather information


Decide


Follow through


Step One: Gathering Information


Step Two: Decide


Step Three: Follow Through


Strategies for use with Individuals


Emotions


People carry around what is said to them


Human Dynamics


Preparation when dealing with people


Decide on the call you are making


Follow through


Making Decisions during Crises


Commit to use the crisis for good.


Have a team ready.


Keep a teachable perspective and have a story ready to go