Public Speaking – An Overview
Public Speaking is defined as the process of communicating with a large group of audience. Let us understand the meaning of public speaking with the help of a very simple example: Tim was the managing director of XYZ industries. Tim wanted to circulate the company policies to all his employees and everyone directly or indirectly […]
Managing the Transition from Hierarchical to Network Organizational Structures
Introduction The emergence of the network-based organizational structures and a movement away from the hierarchical structures that were the hallmark of the earlier era presents its own set of challenges to Human Resource Managers (HRM) as well as Executive Leadership and Senior Management. The key aspect of the transition from hierarchy to network and from […]
Goal Setting Theory of Motivation
In 1960’s, Edwin Locke put forward the Goal-setting theory of motivation. This theory states that goal setting is essentially linked to task performance. It states that specific and challenging goals along with appropriate feedback contribute to higher and better task performance. In simple words, goals indicate and give direction to an employee about what needs […]
Diversity and Inclusivity as a Value Based Imperative
Diversity and inclusivity in organizations have to be practiced instead of being preached. This is because they are concepts that lend credence to value based management and management that is humanistic in nature. Many organizations claim to have diversity programs only to have a few women in positions of power or differently abled employees just […]
Office Lunch Etiquette
Etiquette refers to behaving in a socially responsible way. Etiquette teaches individuals to be civilized and create an everlasting impression on others. Etiquette is a code of behavior expected out of a professional to help him stand apart from the crowd. It is essential to behave in an appropriate way at the workplace to gain […]
From the time we wake up to the time we finish for the day, we are bombarded with all kinds of facts, opinions, news, and views. In this context, the key imperative is to how to decide on anything to do with our daily lives without missteps and misjudgments. Decision making in a confusing world can be tough and this article discusses some strategies and tips on how to arrive at business or personal decision-making.
The first and foremost aspect is that one must trust the source but must verify the facts.
In other words, this means that one must not take everything that comes one’s way without ascertaining whether the information is true and relevant in addition to being pertinent and factual. This means that whenever we are presented with a particular piece of information, we need to double check and cross check it with other sources.
A simple strategy here would be to cross check the information received from one source with other sources so that any possible misinformation can be vetted and verified. This works for most business leaders who often insist on multiple reports from different individuals so that they can make up their minds about the likely course of action.
The point here is that we must not blindly trust all the information and use our sense of discretion and discernment when making up our minds.
The second aspect related to decision making in a confusing world refers to the ability to defer the decision without rushing into judgment and at the same time without delaying it too much.
Research into behavioral decision-making indicates that it would be better to have a lag between the time the information is received and the time one makes the decision.
In other words, look before you leap and take your time before arriving at a decision. The crucial window of time that is needed for successful decision making often makes the difference between success and failure.
Business leaders often take the time to listen to everyone’s point of view, and then ponder about the course of action to be decided, and then only arrive at a decision. In case on the spot decisions are required, then rely on your own experience and your own judgmental abilities instead of relying on others. After all, if you are the decision maker, you would be held responsible for the consequences and not the others. Therefore, taking responsibility and having discernment are both admirable and advisable qualities in decision makers.
The third aspect is related to the need to keep one’s eyes wide open meaning that one must actively seek information and knowledge from others. The best decision makers are those who equip themselves with the necessary knowledge and have the information about the macro issues at their fingertips.
Most business leaders in the corporate world subscribe to think tanks and publications such as Harvard Business Review so that they are abreast of the latest happenings in the world of business. Apart from this, they actively seek feedback and listen to the other employees or the “boots on the ground” so that when they need to take a decision, the chances of them being misled by those with hidden agendas is minimal.
One needs to remember that the corporate jungle or the euphemism for the corporate world resembles the metaphor and hence, success belongs to those who are astute, adroit, and agile. All these qualities need experience and an ability to synthesize information from different sources and to forge everything together into a cohesive and coherent set of data points that can be used as the basis of decision-making.
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