Tip #504 - How to Handle Difficult Decisions in 4 Easy Steps

In business, as in life, you often need to make decisions even if you have a limited amount of information. But making decisions needn't be a gut wrenching process if you follow the four tips below from your friends at Dale Carnegie Training of Western Connecticut:

1. Find the Facts - Before you can make a good business decision, you need to gather as much information as possible while remaining objective. Additionally, fact-finding will help you analyze a problem and uncover any underlying issues as well as possible short and long-term solutions. Determine and execute the most efficient way to collect and analyze any data that can help you.

2. Brainstorm Solutions as a Group and Establish a Deadline - As you review the pros and cons of each of your options, make sure you do it as a group, and with a deadline. This will allow you to stay focused and maintain efficiency. Consolidate your information onto a chart or spreadsheet. It also helps to have at least one associate assisting with your analysis. While the decision is ultimately yours, others can provide insight and/or pros and cons that you may not have noticed.

3. Evaluate Results - Once you have decided upon a decision and implementation schedule, you need to analyze how you have done. Do not be afraid to make adjustments or take notes for future decisions.

4. Remain Consistent - As you tackle the decision making process, keep in mind that you always want to remain objective in your analysis while managing your stress and stress of others. And of course, good decisions come from staying focused on what the options are-both short and long term.

While there are a myriad of ways to handle decision making processes, you cannot overlook this one key element: Work on problem solving as a group. Although the ultimate decision will be yours, an organization cannot move forward or remain innovative without decisive decision makers. By taking action and carefully streamlining your decision making process, you will improve the organization by just making a decision.