Introduction to Decision Making 

A good leader is able to take firm decisions on the spur of the moment. What makes it so tricky is that there is not a single standardised way to decide. One must develop an insight into the problem and weigh the options while considering the situation at present. Also, it is not solely the responsibility of a leader. Everyone must make a decision one day or another in life. The occupants of positions of power, however, have a lot more at stake. It affects and influences the lives of others. This calls for carefully thought through decisions from their side. Managers or leaders of organisations, therefore, commonly find themselves in such predicaments.

What is Decision Making?

Decision-making, according to the principles of management, is the process of selecting the best of all possible alternatives. The managers usually have a long list of viable options regarding a course of action. By evaluating each of these alternatives, they choose what they believe is best for the company and its workforce.

Decision-making requires the person vested with the responsibility to possess particular skills, of which intelligence is the most important. Experience, on the other hand, throws more light into the situation and aids in decision making. 

What are Some of The Decision-Making Skills?

As is already stated, decisions are arrived at after evaluating all the viable alternatives. The skill set required to study and analyse each of the options by collecting information or gathering data is a prerequisite.

It is, similarly, another thing to identify the different alternatives. Only with intelligence and careful observation can one do that. For the result to be innovative, it is also required for the decision maker to be creative. Creative ideas give birth to innovation.

One must be able to visualise the future state of the company. This also requires some amount of imagination. Only with the said skills, one can assume the consequences of each of the decisions and just if you do that will you be able to compare the different alternatives and choose one adequately.

The evaluation and analysis of alternatives, determination of risks, etc. are done with different techniques and tools with which the decision makers should familiarise themselves. Therefore, the knowledge or the ability to analyse is yet another skill the decision-maker should possess. But first and foremost, the person who is taking the decision should develop an insight into the existing problem. The first step towards decision-making involves identifying the problem.

Last but not the least, the qualities that inspire the rest of the workforce to abide by the decision would be remarkable in the person who is taking the decision. The person in the position of power who made the decision should themselves be able to stick to the decision once made no matter what. Merely deciding is far from enough. She/he must see through its implementation.