The Empowered Decision Maker (7) Self-Leadership

Leading starts with us:  leading ourselves starts with knowing ourselves, knowing our goals and the most information we need to get there.  Both basics apply to companies and their organizations.  We all lead by offering rules and processes to follow – which were originally decisions to frame an environment and still, we have to take decisions along the way.

Decisions occur any time when there is no process to follow.  Decisions show up when we face change.  Change can appear internally or influence us externally.  And change often comes without knocking first.

We need to be prepared!  We need advice of what´s relevant to obey and how to change perspectives:

1.  Be fair to any new situation: don´t narrow your decision frame to “whether or not” to decide.  Better: widen the options and see if there is another opportunity to include to your decision process.

2.  Find someone who solved the problem – make a reality-check!  Experts are best to contact before you try something new.  Gather experienced information before you decide.

3.  Step back and see the big picture!  Where will your decision lead you to?  Is the direction the right one?  Will you end where you are aiming at right now?  Does your decision reflect your core priorities?  Priorities are vital for making good decisions.

4.  Set limits to both ends of your options, and prepare to be wrong.  What if …… you won´t reach your goal with this decision?  Make sure to broadly frame your options and have Plan B available.  Decisions are connected to one another and a process, yet invisible, is a chain of connected decisions.  TRY and SUCCEED is your goal any time you decide for the next step.  Bring passion for this new process!  And listen to the customer first.  Think about what you´d tell your best friend to do…..

We have many supporting options for our decision making, and I just listed a few ideas today.  All in all, my take away is the fact that we need to be able to lead ourselves before we become a decider – which includes to make decisions for others.

If you´ve been following my last 6 posts you know by now the process and I hope this is very supportive for you.  Please don´t miss the last blog-post of this series about “Becoming A Decider” –

BE A DECISION MAKER.  BE OUTSTANDING.

rita jaskolla – Leadership Architect –