Creating Training Tools: Decision-making Process for Employees

Introduction

Typically, decision making is a vital skill in any organization, mainly for those in leadership positions. A manager is responsible for planning, organizing, leading and controlling his or her team by executing decisions. The effectiveness of these decisions determines how successful a manager will be. However, decision making can be one of the most challenging aspects when working with a team. Agreeing on the best course of action can be a tedious and emotionally draining process. As a manager, you need to move forward hoping everyone gets on board. As such, organizations run on the day to day decisions that employees make at every level.

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Growth and productivity depend on the quality of decisions made at the lowest level possible. It is imperative to ensure that employees make the same decisions that a manager would make in the same situation (Trammell, n.d.).Most leaders want to develop a culture where the employees feel valued in the decision-making process. One where the team members feel empowered to make their own decisions with little or no supervision.

Allowing employees to make decisions not only makes them feel empowered but is also a significant aspect in the organization. By delegating duties to team members and not micromanaging, the leader can focus on the longterm goals while maintaining the vision and scaling the heights of the company (Leadership Vision, 2014). Therefore, a manager doesn't want his team members to feel like they always have to go to him to approve every decision. Equally, he wants to focus on his decision making while not interfering with the decision of his juniors.

Streghtfinder in decision making

Strengthfinder is an effective tool that helps in making decisions. It highlights the areas where you are naturally wired and have the most potential. For instance, an employee who is strategic will certainly take a different approach from one who is deliberate in their actions. For instance, if you expect these two people to make say ten decisions per day, the results might vary.

When you understand how people are wired, you will most likely know the type of decisions that they naturally make. Also, you will have a better understanding of the timing of their choices and the information needed before making a decision (O'Keefe, 2017). As a leader, you can also give them some insight if their approach is considerably different from yours.

Examples

Consider a case of an individual who is self-assured and strategic. He possesses great confidence and takes incredible ownership for decisions that fall on his plate. Unfortunately, this person's decisions may sometimes come across as definitive and meaning there isn't so much room for discussion. On the other hand, there is an individual who has aspects of learning and empathy. He is welcoming and makes people feel part of the group. His decisions involve the team members and he would ask for a lot of input from the group members before taking any action. As such, these cases are a great example of how individuals are wired differently.

Management decision-making process

Training your employees to make good decisions is a challenge that many business leaders face daily. As such, managers utilize these steps to gain a better understanding of best practices in decision making:

• Identifying the decision-Recognizing the problem and addressing it will make a huge difference to clients or fellow employees.
• Information gathering-Ask yourself if you have the relevant data and facts in order to make the right decision, then seek out the people involved.
• Identifying alternatives-Having a clear understanding of the issue at hand helps to determine which course of action is best to achieve your objectives.
• Weighing the evidence-You need to evaluate for the acceptability and feasibility to determine which alternative is best.
• Choosing an alternative-Before making a decision, its imperative to understand the risks involved with the chosen route.
• Taking action-Identify the resources required and gain support from team members as well as the stakeholders. Getting others on board is also a fundamental aspect in executing you plan effectively.
• Reviewing your decision-Evaluate your decision to determine the effectiveness. Ask yourself whether what was good and what needs to be improved.

To ensure employees make great decisions, the following should be adhered to:

• Instill the company's values: Empowering employees to become good decision makers works if the understand the visions of the organization. Constant communication is required to help them relate their daily work to the objectives of the company.
• Training employees on what decisions to take: As a leader, you should ensure everyone in the company understands who has authority and control over which decisions. As such, a good organizational chart will help employees understand their goals and responsibilities.
• Coaching employees on decision making: Employees may seek your advice when they are not certain who should make a decision or when they need help in making one. You should encourage this since it is a great coaching opportunity. Be thorough in your questioning and ensure all employees have considered all the available options.

Conclusion

Overall, the decision-making process helps to identify a decision, gather information and assess alternative resolutions. The process is not only good for improving employee engagement but also helps the entire team to make better decisions from a place of collective strength. Typically, this leads to better outcomes now and in the days to come.

References

Leadership Vision. (2014, October 28). How StrengthsFinder Can Help Your Team Make Decisions. Retrieved from https://www.leadershipvisionconsulting.com/how-strengthsfinder-can-help-your-team-make-decisions/

O'Keefe, P. (2017, January 2017). How Successful Organizations Maximize Employee Strengths. Retrieved from https://connect.edgetrainingsystems.com/blog/how-successful-organizations-maximize-employee-strengths

Trammell, J. (n.d.). How to Help Employees Make the Right Decisions. Retrieved from https://www.inc.com/joel-trammell/3-ways-to-help-your-employees-make-great-decisions.html