Helping you with the decision making process

Becoming a business manager is a monumental task to undertake as you will be faced with new challenges and obstacles daily. How you handle these roadblocks will say a lot about you as a person and a manager. One of the areas in which you need to work on is your ability to make sound decisions. The decision making process is one that is a struggle to some people because they panic and simply do not trust their abilities and what they are able to bring to the table. Here is a guide to help you make better decisions and to make them in a timely manner:

1. Define the problem. You need to first define what the problem is before you start to try and just solve it. For the big decisions you are dealing with, taking the time to actually write down what the problem is might help you think about it. You need to spend time on a decision before you just make one as it could have terrible consequences. Isolating a single problem does help you to concentrate and just focus only on the problem.
2. Collect Evidence and facts. The next step will involve collecting all of the data that can help you to solve the problem. You need to look at all of the data before making the decision as it will allow you to see the areas that the decision could impact.
3. Brainstorm. Your next area will involve taking time to think about your decision and to brainstorm several decisions before landing on just one. Brainstorming also helps you to weigh the pros and cons of the data you collected and to understand the impact it will have. Brainstorming really helps you to narrow down all of the solutions that are out there and will help you to make the best decision possible.
4. Make a decision. Once you have everything written down and you have taken time to put real thought into it you need to make a decision. This part simply is where you say this is what you want to do and then you have to take time to come up with a plan of action as to how you will actually implement the decision. Once you make the decision don't go back on it and start second-guessing it because it will be really confusing and vague to your employees when you try to explain what they need to do.
5. Implement your decision. Now that you made the decision you need to move forward with it. The implementation phase is pretty challenging and this is why you need to have a plan of action before you just shoot from the hip and try to wing it.

A decision that is properly implemented also needs to undergo other things as well like monitoring the decision and also seeing how this decision is impacting the company. You need to set some goals for it and measurements in order to see if it's working the way you wanted it to. This will help you to see how to make better decisions for the company in the future and will also be able to help others see how your good decision improved the company.

Never be afraid to ask others for their input and advice. This is why you have good employees to surround you as they are here to help you become a better manager and to help you become successful. Ask them about your decision and the steps you want to take to implement it. Getting feedback will really help you to see how your decision will impact your staff.