Decision Quality (DQ) provides the defining framework for a good decision.
Leaders skilled in DQ are intentional about their decision-making process, and use a different process based on the type of decision they are making (e.g., the relative importance of the decision).
Answer YES or NO to each of the statements below, keeping track of your total yes responses.
- I don’t spend too much time thinking about decisions that have low importance.
- I will seek the advice of colleagues or experts on decisions of high importance.
- I delegate decision-making if I don’t have more knowledge or experience in the area than my team members.
- I include my team members in decisions where their buy-in and commitment are important.
- I always explain my decision-making process to my team.
- I make important decisions only when I’m fully rested.
- I never make decisions when I’m angry, frustrated, or overly stressed.
- I use a decision journal to document my decisions for future learning.
- I never make a decision that will compromise my values.
- I try to mitigate unconscious biases related to decision-making (e.g., confirmation bias, survivorship bias, first idea bias, etc.).
Interpreting Results
How many YES answers do you have?
- If your total number of YES answers is less than 5, improving your decision-making skills should be a high priority.
- If your total number of YES answers is 5 – 8, you do a good job of decision-making but have room for improvement.
- If your total number of YES answers is 9 or higher, you are talented at decision-making.
