Decision Making Made Simple(r)

Exercising good judgment is less of a one-time event than it is a process--one that unfolds over three distinct phases.

1. Preparation During this phase of the decision-making process, a leader recognizes and frames an issue so that his or her employees understand the concern. The team is mobilized to address the problem.
   
   
2. Making the call Leaders don't endlessly weigh their options. They understand when the time has come to frame a judgment call as a yes-or-no decision. And they get their staff to firmly commit to that decision.
   
   
3. Execution Not surprisingly, this is where many decision makers stumble. After making the call, a leader stays on top of the situation to make sure a decision is implemented correctly. A leader is also willing to adjust as new information becomes available.