In business coaching, you often need to work closely with business owners about where and how they make decisions in their business. Freestyle Decision Making provides some really interesting insights into how and why we as human beings make our decisions.
There are a number of different frameworks and pieces of advice out there about how to make better decisions. I find the ‘pyramid of decision-making’ that they talk about is an incredibly useful one, which incorporates a lot of those other powerful frameworks that have been shared before.
From the challenge of dealing with the very human aspects of how we function, through to the more external influences, and on to how tech interacts with us, the pyramid digs into a range of perspectives on the influences on decision-making. It is a powerful idea and I think the best part is that it is presented in a straightforward, easy-to-read manner.
Here is a quick summary of the learning you can get from each step:
• We can be in control – while the bottom of the pyramid is all about the human instincts and functions we are often governed by, it is also about how we can make better decisions by being aware of them and knowing when to trust or oppose them.
• Group work should be carefully managed – two heads are often better than one, but that is only true in particular circumstances. You need to consider the individuals within a group, and the way they interact with each other, if you want that group to be successful.
• Decisions are not made in vacuums – context is incredibly important and needs to be considered carefully in any and all decisions you make.
• Be more critical of information – information that comes your way may be correct, but it may not be the whole picture. Make sure you are looking at it from every angle and try to prevent any details slipping away.
• Technology needs a human focus – the top of the pyramid is where most business owners salivate: technology solutions. But what we must remember is that technology decision support should be focused on the human decision-makers and the role they play in the system. That is where the true power of technology arrives.
It is an easy read, a powerful idea and is a good reminder that decision-making is at the core of business, and at the core of our personal happiness. It is worth spending time learning to make better decisions.
Published by LID Publishing
Shweta Jhajharia is principal coach and founder of The London Coaching Group
