Monday, October 30, 2023

Decision-Making And Discernment

There has been many books and articles written about decision-making. One exceptionally good article is the following: “Making Judgment Calls: The Ultimate Act of Leadership” by Noel M. Tichy and Warren Bennis in the October 2007 issue of the Harvard Business Review. It is well worth the time and effort to reread it as you work on preparing for next year. 


To build on the decision-making framework within the article, and as individuals and companies finalize the goals that will need to be accomplished during 2024, I think there is an important exercise we need to explore in order to help us when it comes to the execution of these new goals. 


First, think forward into 2024 and start with the premise that all the decisions have been made, all the actions have been taken, and that you have already reached your goal or goals.  Then, with this mind, ask yourself the following two questions:


- What will be the impact and/or outcome of reaching this goal or these goals by the fourth quarter of 2024?


- In what new ways, would we have acted in order to reach this goal or these goals by the fourth quarter of 2024?


Second, recognize that discernment about outcomes and the pathways we choose to reach those outcomes are critical to successful leadership. Decisions about goals, and discernment about choices post the decisions are critical to short and long term success. 


Now is the time to give ourselves permission to think forward and to think realistically about the future and about how to achieve the outcomes we seek. 

Then, we can make 2024 one of our best years yet. 


This week, answer the above two questions for yourself, and then explore them with your team. 


Geery Howe, M.A. Executive Coach in Leadership, Strategic Planning, and Organizational Change Morning Star Associates 319 - 643 - 2257

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