Transparent decision making and problem solving processes are essential in deciding and executing strategy.
I am as staggered by the number of business people who do not have a decision making and problem solving process, as I am by those who have one, however its use is not transparent.
If you do not have a decision making and problem solving model please get one today. Here is one I recommend:
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Major Problem Solving Model
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Major Decision Making Model
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| Clearly identify the problem |
What choices are available? |
| Clearly identify who owns the problem |
Eliminate choices not in-line with agreed cause, values, goal plans and strategies |
| Obtain suggested solutions from all those affected |
Evaluate effects of choices on customers/clients, individual and team performance |
| Follow the first 6 steps of the Decision Making Model |
What are the likely outcomes of each choice |
| Discuss decision with all those affected |
What choice or combination of choices seem to be the best? |
| Arrive at consensus if possible |
Make the decision |
| Take action |
Undertake communication with all those whom the decision will affect |
| Remove/eliminate the causes of the problem in the first place |
Stick with the decision |
When you make a decision or solve a problem, share the process you went through and you will save yourself much unnecessary heartache and lessen the likelihood of cynicism and skepticism.
And to state the obvious, involving stakeholders who will be affected by the decision in the process of making the decision, is empowering, leads to greater levels of engagement, and the sense of ownership that is created leads to execution.
Summary
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Know who all your stakeholders are and the value they demand, desire, and feel they deserve from you
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Know how fully engaged all your stakeholders are with you
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Get crystal clear on where you are going, why you're going there, and what you stand for and be authentic
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Don't hire or keep employed anyone who is not congruent and aligned with where you are going, why you are going there, and what you stand for
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Spend time in person with all your stakeholders on a regular basis
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Turn strategic intuition and thinking into strategic insight
Only now can we really decide on strategy:
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Strategy can be articulated on one or two sheets of A4 paper
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Individual performance possibility plans are critical to strategy getting executed
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Individual plans without a follow-through system is like gambling, you might win big, you most likely won't
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Putting people first is your best strategy for being remarkable in business
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Have a process for making decisions and solving problems and be transparent about their use
Read the article "Simplifying Strategy And Execution: All Stakeholders Are Important"
Read the article "Simplifying Strategy And Execution: Aligning Possibility, Purpose And Principles"
Read the article "Simplifying Strategy And Execution: Strategic Intuition Precedes Strategic Thinking"
Read the article "Simplifying Strategy And Execution: Turning Strategic Thinking Into Strategic Insight"
Read the article "Simplifying Strategy And Execution: Strategic Planning Is An Oxymoron"
Read the article "Simplifying Strategy And Execution: Plans Need Systems"
Buy Ian Berry's Audio Seminar CD from the Resource Centre:
What Real Leaders Do And Fake Ones Don't