Optimizing Decision-Making
Collaboration is valuable when we’re making high-risk decisions that impact multiple people and require specialized knowledge. Decision-making can sometimes be tricky—we’ve all experienced the awkward silence of nobody making a decision or the chaotic debate with no ending. But when we apply structure to our decision-making with data-driven resources and diverse perspectives, the process becomes more effective. It’s also important to note that decisions can vary significantly in complexity, and not all decisions need the same level of decision-making structure.
Take action
with better
sooner
decisions
Define the scope of the decision
Before you start tackling how to make the decision, clearly specify what is the decision to be made in the first place. To understand whether a decision is truly necessary, consider how the need for that decision came about and what is the desired outcome.
Proactive decisions are those that are made with the intention of accomplishing your preset goal(s). Reactive decisions are those that are made in response to an unexpected situation that’s out of your control. Knowing the purpose and type of your decision will help you steer and assess your decision-making approach.
What's the problem to be solved and/or the goal to be achieved from the decision-making process?
Which aspects of the decision are in and out
of my control?
Ask yourself...
Identify the
key players
Establishing boundaries and expectations among stakeholders is crucial to a decision-making process. Once you’ve built your decision scope and criteria, determine who are the right people to be involved and what are their roles in the decision-making process. Note that a person may have more than one of the following responsibilities:
-
Structure strategicallyWhen it comes to writing, we often think about documents that are full of paragraphs, yet sometimes certain information can be better understood through other formatting styles such as bullet lists, tables, slide decks, and graphs.
-
Spoil the punchlineSince we often skim documents for key points before deciding to dive into any details, frontloading your key points will capture your reader’s interest faster. This can be done by opening your message with a subject line, overview summary, or table of contents.
-
Create visual appeal and accessibilityIt can be difficult for your reader to stay focused and engaged with a wall of plain text. Spice things up and catch your reader’s attention by chunking your text into sections with headings and bolding keywords or phrases.
What roles and skills are necessary to make the decision?
Who has the expertise and authority to contribute to the decision-making process?
Lay out the requirements
and options
Once you’ve recruited the right people with the authority and expertise necessary for the decision-making process to be successful, compile the right information and criteria, including the requirements, constraints, and resources to make your decision.
The goal is to make sure that you’re not overlooking any pros or cons and missing good alternatives. Collect historical and forecasting data to examine the costs and benefits of your decision options, along with how each option aligns with the core values and business objectives at Clio.
What are the requirements and constraints to make the decision?
​
What historical and forecasting data is available for the decision-making process?
Analyze and challenge the decision
The decision-making process can sometimes feel like a blur when you think and act too quickly or focus solely on a short-term response and/or reward. However, there’s a science to decision-making that can make the process clearer and more intentional.
It’s important to consider the risks and costs of making or even not making a decision while being mindful of the psychological limitations and inherent human habits that can affect your decision-making process.
What are the potential risks and contingency plans for the decision?
Have I minimized the possible personal biases and social pressures in the decision-making process?
-
Structure strategicallyWhen it comes to writing, we often think about documents that are full of paragraphs, yet sometimes certain information can be better understood through other formatting styles such as bullet lists, tables, slide decks, and graphs.
-
Spoil the punchlineSince we often skim documents for key points before deciding to dive into any details, frontloading your key points will capture your reader’s interest faster. This can be done by opening your message with a subject line, overview summary, or table of contents.
-
Create visual appeal and accessibilityIt can be difficult for your reader to stay focused and engaged with a wall of plain text. Spice things up and catch your reader’s attention by chunking your text into sections with headings and bolding keywords or phrases.
Implement and review the decision
Sometimes it may be tempting to implement a decision as fast as possible and proceed onto the next big thing without looking back. Or, in hindsight, you may experience regret when a decision doesn’t meet your expectations. However, outcomes aren’t guaranteed when making decisions.
What matters most is whether you’ve maximized the chances of reaching your objective through an effective decision-making process. It’s important to evaluate the actual outcome after the decision has been made and debrief on the decision-making process with your stakeholders to learn from what went well and what could be done better for future decisions.
Did the decision meet the intended key performance indicators?
What are the highlights of success and ideas for improvement from the decision-making process?