Making decisions is the cognitive process of selecting one option over another, or over many others. Look at it like a puzzle, or even a chess game.  You have to look ahead and decide how one move will affect the remaining ones.  Think of decision making as a problem-solving exercise.  Make logical choices that will lead to a desired outcome.

Not Everyone Will Agree

Making decisions is not always a team sport.  Everyone has their own opinion, and the way they would like to see things go.  Yes, it is important for you to know what those opinions are, but the actual decision should be made by you.  Hearing all sides will give you a better overall picture; however, as manager, your purpose is to make decisions that are in the best interest of the company. Others may only be making decisions which better them personally.

Decide and Move Forward

As a manager you make decisions every day, and those decisions affect your team and your company.  This responsibility can cause an extreme amount of stress.  You need to manage your decisions just like you would manage anything else – create and execute a plan of action.

When executing your plan, it is important to stay focused.  Lack of focus results in poor decisions.  Only consider moves that lead to your end goal.  Set time limits and then move on to the next decision.  Time limits help you stay on track and keep you from second guessing yourself.

Worry is a Useless Reaction

“Worry is like a rocking chair – it gives you something to do but it doesn’t get you anywhere”, so said Van Wilder.  A fictional character, perhaps, but a true statement nonetheless.  Worry is just another distraction.  Focus on things you can control and what will benefit from your time.  Free up your time by leveraging your team and delegating your busy work.

Learn from Your Past Mistakes

We’ve all made them.  From the newbie out of college to the executive of a corporation.  Bad decisions are inevitable.  You have made both good and bad decisions in your past, so take the time to reflect on those decisions and learn from them.  Identify what worked and what did not.  Then, make any necessary adjustments and call on similarities that may assist you with your current choices.  This is how you develop your intuition, which will improve your ability to make “gut” decisions.

K.I.S.S.

Say it with me – “Keep It Simple Silly” (sorry, I just can’t call people striving to be great ‘stupid’, even in this context).  Use common sense and do not over complicate.  Ask yourself if there is value in this decision and, if so, move forward.

When making the more important decisions, gather all of the facts.  Even if you are facing a deadline, a good decision is simply not possible without the facts.  Just be careful to balance out the time you take fact finding with your deadline.

In Closing

If there are no major repercussions from your decisions, make them and move on.  Do not get hung up on the little things.  Does it really matter what type of paper you order for the copy machine or what coffee you buy for the office?  Hmm…  maybe coffee does matter, but that is another decision for another day.  Right now, you have more important things to think about.  Go get ’em!

Now that you are a manager, it is your job to scout out potential candidates for advancement within your company.  This is a great responsibility and must be treated as such.  You have to be fair to your team while keeping the company’s interests in mind.

Not Everyone is Management Material

We all have that rock star employee: in early, out late, meets or beats all deadlines…  just owns the position from day one.  All that still does not make them a fit for a management position.  You must know your team members – their ambitions, skills, and personalities – in order to determine the direction, they are destined for within the company.  When you are considering an employee for advancement, find evidence to support your decision then move forward.

Narrowing the Field

You have established your final candidates for a management position.  They are all “qualified” to take on the role, but do they understand it?  Have you been clear about the commitment which will be required?  Do they have the passion, drive, and desire that it takes?  More importantly, are they a good leader?  They need to have the knowledge, skills, and attitude to perform the job, but they also need to have superior people skills and the ability to lead.  The right person will have their own management style but will put the needs of the company first.

Management Takes More Than Book Smarts

Education and experience are important, but lack of either should not be grounds for dismissing someone as a possible manager.  Leadership development can happen in a number of ways.  Perhaps they held a leadership position in a club or coached a team. The most important thing is their ability to guide the team to success and that requires skills that go beyond education.

(They’ve Got) Personality

Personality is one of the most important things to look for in a candidate.  The way they get along with co-workers in their current position will speak volumes about their potential to lead.  If they are taking initiative and assisting others, chances are they will exercise that same team mentality as a manager.  Note their reaction when given constructive criticism.  If they take it in stride and implement the advice, they might be ready to make the move into management.  If not, it is not necessarily a deal breaker, they just might need more time to grow.

Don’t Rush It

You are not looking for a perfect person, you are looking for a person perfect for the job. You can’t rush this process.  Take your time and get to know the candidates beyond their resume.  Remember, someone once gave you a chance.  Now it is your turn.

You have dreams, but do you actually follow them?  Pursuing your dream is the hard part, and there is only so much time in a day.  Ending your day at exactly eight hours or burning yourself out – neither of these will help you reach your goals.  You must have balance.

Create a Plan

Without a plan you are going to burn out – and I’m not talking about the cool trick that race car drivers perform.  Burn out – as in cranky, overworked, wife can’t stand the sight of you kind of burn out.  So, create that plan then break everything down into smaller goals.  Jot them down in a spiral or on a whiteboard and check them off as you go.  This will give you a feeling of accomplishment which is key.  It will also give you the strength to begin tackling your next step.  Plan your entire day, remembering to allow time for meals, sleep, and personal time.  If you do not put it in the plan, you may not take the time for it. Being productive does not mean you have no free time.

Don’t Confuse Busyness with Productivity

There is a saying:  Activity does not equal productivity.  Have you ever walked by someone’s desk and they always seem to be moving papers around, but nothing ever gets done?  Or, they are organized and can find anything at a moment’s notice, but if they are called on in a meeting you get a blank stare and excuses.  Do not be this person.  Only when you are completing tasks that lead to your goals are you truly being productive.  Outsource some of your busy work which will allow yourself the time to focus on achieving your goals.  Delegate to your team, hire an assistant, or utilize a service.

Keep a Progress Report

Keep a record of your progress so you can see your accomplishments.  Look back at the past week, month, or year, and see that you have made great strides.  Keeping a record also allows you to learn from your mistakes and make any necessary adjustments.  This is key to growth, both in your career, as well as in your life.

Aim High and Be Willing to Adjust

You should always be looking for things that push your boundaries and put you ahead of your competition.  You may not reach every goal you have, but if you do not even try it is the same as failing.  Be prepared to adjust your goals; many times, things do not go as planned.  The truth is – if you aim small, you will miss small.

So, dream big and succeed big!