Decision Making

I often question rather I am making the right decision at my job, throughout my life, and with my family. These are all places in which people have to constantly make hard decisions which at times can be life changing; it is important how we come to a conclusion with all of our decisions. In the MSLD program I have been lucky enough to receive a lot of work which has been geared towards self-reflection and  self-improvement; it is important for all of us as leaders to take a look in the mirror and decide who it is we are and how we make decisions. The following questions are meant for us as leaders to understand our learning styles and self-reflect on what type of leaders we are when it comes to decision making.

1.      What are a few words that describe your decision-making style?

While I was watching this video I picked up on a few key words which made me reflect on how good or bad a leader I can be at times. I was actually a bit concerned after watching the video and thought to myself that I still have a lot of work to complete so that I can be a better leader. I think that when it comes to decision making I am a risk-taker, self-motivated, and assertive; when I want something there is nothing that will get in my way. On the negative side I realized that at times I can be impulsive, delaying and even paralytic. It seems that there are two sides to me and I need to find a way to meet somewhere in-between. While reading an article I find that sometimes a paralytic behavior at work can also be called “analysis paralysis” (Forbes); this behavior can sometimes be attributed to the fact that the decision maker is worried about too many variables which may arise on account of their decision.

2.      What are the opposites of the words you choose?

The opposite of the words I choose to describe my decision making skills are safe, unmotivated, timid, and confident. Some of these words I am glad I do not associate with myself but there are times when I do wish I could relate better to some of these words. The word safe can be a good thing and a bad thing; it is usually good after a bad decision has been made. For the most part I do not like the word safe because it feels like it is always the easier more logical decision to be made, the problem is that it is hard to improve yourself in life if you are always taking the safe route.

Being confident in my decisions would definitely be something which I could benefit from. ”Self-confidence is the fundamental basis from which leadership grows. Trying to teach leadership without first building confidence is like building a house on a foundation of sand. It may have a nice coat of paint, but it is ultimately shaky at best” (INC). This statement is a good representation of how I feel about myself at times, I know I might look and sound like a leader on the outside but on the inside I am not confident yet. Over the last year in the MSLD program, I have come to understand that without confidence it would be almost impossible to lead a group of people if I do not believe in myself first.

3.       Could you see any benefits to making decision using an approach that is based on either the opposites or somewhere in-between and what outcomes would you expect to see?

I think if I can find a happy medium where I am confident yet safe at the same time while continuing to be self-motivated and logical I can succeed at a better rate no matter where I am at. There are many times when I know that I have to stop and force myself to think outside of the norm, I realized this when I read a quote during a class which I took a couple of months ago which changed my outlook on life. The quote said “To resist our tendencies to make right or true that which is merely familiar and wrong or false that which is only strange” (Matthew Taylor). To me what this means is that we have to force ourselves to look at things from an opposite point of view and not just shut the door on something because it is “too” different. If I can overcome my normal tendencies and points of view and force myself to at times be different I think that the outcome would definitely be a positive one.

References:

Dao, F. (n.d.). Without Confidence, There is No Leadership. Retrieved June 20, 2015, from http://www.inc.com/resources/leadership/articles/20080301/dao.html

Boss, J. (n.d.). How To Overcome The 'Analysis Paralysis' Of Decision-Making. Retrieved June 20, 2015, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffboss/2015/03/20/how-to-overcome-the-analysis-paralysis-of-decision-making/

Taylor, M. (n.d.).