How to Improve Decision-Making Skills for Leaders

Good leaders make decisions. Great leaders refine HOW they make them. I’ve guided new leaders through the challenges of balancing speed, confidence, and precision. Decision-making is a skill that grows stronger with practice and intentionality. Here’s how to refine it: 1. Understand the Real Timeline ↳ Most decisions aren’t true emergencies—pause. ↳ Discern between urgent and important priorities. 2. Balance Overthinking and Underthinking ↳ Use timeboxing to avoid analysis paralysis. ↳ Combine intuition with fact-based validation. 3. Clarify the Desired Outcome ↳ Define what success looks like before deciding. ↳ Ensure every decision aligns with broader goals. 4. Involve the Right People ↳ Seek input from stakeholders to refine options. ↳ Avoid silos; collaboration leads to better solutions. 5. Consider the Impact on Teams and Culture ↳ Weigh how choices influence morale and trust. ↳ Take responsibility for outcomes, win or lose. 6. Learn from Every Decision ↳ Keep a decision journal to track results and lessons. ↳ Identify patterns to improve future judgment. 7. Build a Reliable Decision-Making Toolkit ↳ Use frameworks like pros/cons lists or matrices. ↳ Adapt quickly as new information becomes available. Decision-making is part art, part science, and wholly essential to leadership. Approach it with clarity, confidence, and accountability to drive success and build trust. #BuildingLeaders #Manufacturing 👉 What’s your top tip for new leaders? Tell me below! 

As a fighter pilot and military leader, I often had to make time-critical decisions. I never had perfect information or a 100% solution, but I still needed to be decisive and take action. It wasn’t always easy, but the more experience (and practice) I had, the easier it became to make decisions quickly. How did I get to the point where I felt confident in making quick decisions? 1️⃣ Prepare – do the research, know your stuff. It’s easier to make a quick decision when you have done the work to be knowledgeable about a situation. Going in cold is much more difficult. 2️⃣ Plan for contingencies – think through contingencies in advance. If you think through the “what ifs” in advance, then you will feel better prepared to make a decision. 3️⃣ Seek input – you don’t have to have all the answers. When time permits, seek out input from experts, and also from your team members who are closest to the action and will be most impacted by your decision. 4️⃣ Evaluate the pros and cons – Think through the consequences of your decision. How will it impact your team? What are the outcomes related to your decision? 5️⃣ Make the decision – Make a timely decision and communicate it to your team. Explain your thought process and reasoning to help gain buy-in and understanding. 6️⃣ Hold yourself accountable for the decision. If it’s wrong, admit it, and go back to adjust. We can all face challenges that can make us feel stressed or worried about making a timely decision. But when it comes down to it, leaders need to be prepared to make tough decisions in challenging circumstances when time is limited. #DecisionMaking #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadWithCourage

Last week, I posted about data strategies’ tendency to focus on the data itself, overlooking the (data-driven) decisioning process itself. All it not lost. First, it is appropriate that the majority of the focus remains on the supply of high-quality #data relative to the perceived demand for it through the lenses of specific use cases. But there is an opportunity to complement this by addressing the decisioning process itself. 7 initiatives you can consider: 1) Create a structured decision-making framework that integrates data into the strategic decision-making process. This is a reusable framework that can be used to explain in a variety of scenarios how decisions can be made. Intuition is not immediately a bad thing, but the framework raises awareness about its limitations, and the role of data to overcome them. 2) Equip leaders with the skills to interpret and use data effectively in strategic contexts. This can include offering training programs focusing on data literacy, decision-making biases, hypothesis development, and data #analytics techniques tailored for strategic planning. A light version could be an on-demand training. 3) Improve your #MI systems and dashboards to provide real-time, relevant, and easily interpretable data for strategic decision-makers. If data is to play a supporting role to intuition in a number of important scenarios, then at least that data should be available and reliable. 4) Encourage a #dataculture, including in the top executive tier. This is the most important and all-encompassing recommendation, but at the same time the least tactical and tangible. Promote the use of data in strategic discussions, celebrate data-driven successes, and create forums for sharing best practices. 5) Integrate #datascientists within strategic planning teams. Explore options to assign them to work directly with executives on strategic initiatives, providing data analysis, modeling, and interpretation services as part of the decision-making process. 6) Make decisioning a formal pillar of your #datastrategy alongside common existing ones like data architecture, data quality, and metadata management. Develop initiatives and goals focused on improving decision-making processes, including training, tools, and metrics. 7) Conduct strategic data reviews to evaluate how effectively data was used. Avoid being overly critical of the decision-makers; the goal is to refine the process, not question the decisions themselves. Consider what data could have been sought at the time to validate or challenge the decision. Both data and intuition have roles to play in strategic decision-making. No leap in data or #AI will change that. The goal is to balance the two, which requires investment in the decision-making process to complement the existing focus on the data itself. Full POV ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e3F-R6V7

I coach executives at Fortune 500 companies. The top reason they fail isn't bad decisions. It's NO decisions. Here's the devastating pattern I see destroy companies over and over: A CEO of one of the world's largest market research firms watched his company crumble because of analysis paralysis: • 225 PowerPoint slides of planning • 8 months of meetings • 0 clear decisions made The result? Their competitor acquired them. This isn't rare. And the pattern is always the same: • Leaders get trapped seeking "more data" • Top performers start leaving • Teams lose direction • Market share erodes • Revenue flatlines • Competitors move in While you're stuck in meetings analyzing data, your competition is: • Testing new products • Closing deals • Stealing your best people • Taking market share The most expensive decision is the one you don't make. Here's what I've learned coaching executives at Amazon, Walmart, and other top companies: 1. Create Clarity Define what success looks like clearly. Make Key Results so simple and repeatable that everyone understands them. 2. Build Alignment Don't just create awareness - take time to make the case, gauge, and discuss with your team, and get everyone involved. 3. Generate Movement Focus on shifting mindsets and behaviors to accelerate results. Don't get stuck in the "morning" phase of change. 4. Make Decisions That Matter Groups don't make decisions - leaders do. Your job is to take a position and determine the course of action. 5. Stand Alone When Needed Be willing to make tough decisions and stand by them, even if you're temporarily standing alone. Just ensure the loneliness is temporary. The truth is simple: In today's market, slow decisions are often worse than wrong ones. Start making the right decision faster by stealing the decision-making cheatsheet below. ⬇️ - Want more on becoming the leader others wants to follow? • Join the 12,500+ leaders who get our weekly email newsletter: https://lnkd.in/en9vxeNk • Become part of our leadership community at https://lnkd.in/etZGVhtE • Follow for daily insights on leading high-performing teams • Share with leaders in your network 🔁 Lead with impact.

🧠 Mastering the Art of Decision-Making: 5 Proven Strategies 🎯 Being overwhelmed. Plates are being stacked up constantly and wanting to do everything for everybody. Wanting to take on EVERY project! Every task! These are problems we face every day. So many options and variables to consider, we have to have systems in place to make sure we are tackling the most important task for ourselves and our businesses! Here are some systems I use to make smart decisions! 1. 📊 **The Eisenhower Matrix** - Categorize tasks by urgency and importance. - Focus on high-impact, time-sensitive decisions first. - Delegate or eliminate low-priority items. This framework helped me prioritize my workload and focus on the decisions that matter most. 💪 2. 🌳 **The Decision Tree** - Map out the possible outcomes of each choice. - Assign probabilities and values to each branch. - Calculate the expected value to guide your decision. Using decision trees has helped me evaluate complex options and choose the most promising path forward. 🌿 3. 🎲 **The 10/10/10 Rule** - Consider the consequences of your decision in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years. - Weigh the short-term and long-term implications. - Choose the option that aligns with your values and goals. This rule has helped me make decisions that stand the test of time. ⏳ 4. 👥 **The Advice Process** - Seek input from experts and stakeholders. - Gather diverse perspectives and insights. - Synthesize the feedback to inform your decision. Leveraging the collective wisdom of my network has led to some of my best decisions. 🧠 5. 🎯 **The Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) Framework** - Define clear, measurable objectives. - Establish key results that align with your objectives. - Make decisions that move you closer to your OKRs. Using OKRs has helped me stay focused on the decisions that drive meaningful progress. 📈 **Bonus Tip: 🌀 Embrace the OODA Loop** - Observe the situation. - Orient yourself with data and insights. - Decide on the best course of action. - Act swiftly and decisively. The OODA Loop has helped me make fast, informed decisions in rapidly changing environments. 🚀

The #1 mistake leaders make in decision conversations: Jumping straight to solutions. It looks like this: Team member: "I'm stuck on this decision..." Leader: "Oh, you should do X!" As a Decision Engineer and Faculty Coach at Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute, I see this pattern every day. But here's what great leaders understand: Telling someone what to do doesn't build decision-making muscle. It creates dependence, not competence. Here's the framework we at BECI teach leaders to develop stronger teams: 1️⃣ Topic First, name the challenge they're wrestling with. 2️⃣ Goal Define what needs to be achieved in THIS conversation. (These are different - and that distinction matters!) 3️⃣ Reality Explore the full context. What's actually happening? 4️⃣ Options Only NOW do we start exploring possible paths forward. 5️⃣ Way Forward Convert insights into concrete next steps. The magic happens when you resist jumping to options. When you start with context and clarity, you teach your team to: → Break overwhelming decisions into manageable pieces → Identify where they're truly stuck → See patterns in their decision-making process But when you rush to solutions? You rob them of the chance to develop these crucial skills. Think about it: What serves your team better - giving them one answer today, or helping them make better decisions for years to come? The best leaders don't just solve problems. They build their team's capacity to solve problems themselves. What's one way you develop decision-making skills in your team? Drop it in the comments ⬇️ -- Hi! I'm Michelle - Decision Engineer, Executive Coach, & Speaker. If you want to learn how to make decisions with less stress and more clarity, follow for more. If you'd like to bring decision frameworks to your team, send me a DM.

➡️Are your leadership decisions structured or reactive? ➡️Do you find yourself stuck in decision fatigue, struggling with competing priorities? ➡️Want to know how high-impact leaders cut through the noise and make strategic, confident choices? I just published a new article sharing proven decision-making frameworks that top leaders use to navigate complexity and drive results. These models have helped me lead high-performing teams in healthcare and beyond—and now, I’m sharing them with you. Inside the article, you’ll discover: ✅ The OODA Loop—Make rapid, informed decisions in fast-paced environments. ✅ The Eisenhower Matrix—Prioritize tasks like a pro and eliminate time-wasters. ✅ The SWOT Analysis—See the bigger picture before making key strategic moves. ✅ The 5 Whys—Uncover the root cause of recurring problems and solve them for good. ✅ How to choose the right framework for the right situation! Decision-making is a skill you can master. When you apply the right framework at the right time, you gain clarity, confidence, and better outcomes. Which decision-making framework do you use the most? #Leadershiptidbits #CareerGrowth #StandOutWithIntent #LeadershipDevelopment

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 . . . 🔷As a manager and leader, whether you're just starting out or you’ve been in the game for years, you know that the decisions you make every day can have lasting effects. But how often do you stop to reflect on how those decisions are made—especially when they don’t go as planned? 👇Before diving into your next big decision, ask yourself: ❓What past decisions didn’t turn out the way I expected? ❓Am I repeating the same approach, hoping for different results? ❓How can I use past experiences to improve my current decision-making? 💡In our rush for efficiency, we often move quickly, believing that speed will bring results. But true efficiency comes from intentional reflection—slowing down to mine the lessons hidden in past decisions, even when those decisions didn’t work out. 👉Here are some key steps you can take to improve your decision-making by learning from past experiences: 1️⃣ 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺. Before jumping to solutions, make sure you're addressing the right issue. Don’t let assumptions or desired outcomes cloud your understanding of what’s actually at stake. 2️⃣ 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻. Stress can cloud judgment and reinforce biases. By understanding what’s triggering your stress, you can prevent it from skewing your decision-making process. 3️⃣ 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘇𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁. Choose a few decisions that didn’t go as planned. What went wrong? Were there warning signs you ignored? This reflection will help you avoid similar mistakes. 4️⃣ 𝗔𝗰𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲. Every decision comes with assumptions. Looking back, what assumptions led to poor outcomes? Did you rely on incomplete information, or overlook key factors? 5️⃣ 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Use what you’ve learned from past mistakes to make adjustments to your current decision. What new approaches can you take to get a better outcome? 6️⃣ 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻. After reflecting on your past and current decision, create a strategy that addresses the lessons learned. Ensure your approach incorporates new insights to avoid repeating mistakes. 🪴Mistakes are not failures—they’re opportunities for growth. By taking the time to reflect on past decisions, you gain the insight needed to make more informed and confident choices in the future. 💫Remember, slowing down and reflecting is not a sign of inefficiency, but a strategy for long-term success. Ask yourself: 𝘈𝘮 𝘐 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘺 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵, 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴?

Making decisions for your business can feel like navigating a maze blindfolded. Incomplete information is a recurring challenge leaders face when making decisions to steer their company towards success. I've seen many leaders, including myself, struggle with this uncertainty. It's easy to get lost in the data, opinions, and potential outcomes, which leads to decisions that are more reactive than strategic. This not only stunts growth but can also lead to costly missteps. That's where Create the Future Thinking (CTF) comes in – a methodology I firmly believe in and practice. It's a structured yet flexible approach that empowers leaders to make enlightened decisions. Here's how it works: 👉 Ask Questions: Start with curiosity. Dive deep with questions like 'Why?', 'What if?', and 'How come?' to uncover the real challenges. 👉 Discover: Discover what you know and acknowledge what you don't. Understand the quality of your information and the assumptions you're making. 👉 Learn: Connect the dots. Look for patterns and insights in the information you've gathered to transform ideas into actionable strategies. 👉 Decide: With a clearer understanding, make decisions that align with your vision and values, steering your organization confidently towards its goals. Embracing CTF will help you make the right decisions. By integrating this approach, you can expect to see enhanced team collaboration, more innovative solutions, and a significant reduction in decision-making time. CTF is more than a process; it's a game-changer for your business strategy, ensuring that every decision aligns perfectly with your long-term vision and company values. Are your decision-making processes as strategic and informed as they could be? Share your thoughts below. #StrategicDecisionMaking #LeadershipChallenges #CreateTheFutureThinking #BusinessGrowthStrategy #InformedDecisions #LeadershipInsights #NavigatingUncertainty