According to an article at the Harvard Business Review, good decision making requires a sense of two things: “How different choices change the likelihood of different outcomes and how desirable each of those outcomes is. In other words… decision making requires both prediction and judgment.”

Of course, this presupposes that your decision-making process is reality-based and free from emotions

like fear, a narrow focus, or an ego-based justification for the actions you choose to take.

(Yes, these are hard truths that must be accepted to be a better leader.)

Great decision makers, and great leaders will:

• Avoid emotional responses to challenging situations
• Focus on facts, without misreading what is actually going on
• Not turn molehills into mountains
• View situations from multiple perspectives
• Set realistic goals and objectives for their team – and themselves

NOTE: While we all fear being wrong, fear of regret may have a greater negative influence on the decision-making process itself. The idea that you had a good choice and a bad choice, and regretting that you made the wrong one, is a huge deterrent to deciding. As a leader, you are the “Decider”, and you simply cannot afford to allow the potential for regret to slow down your process.

Reality Testing and Good Decision Making

In my coaching, as well as in my Webinar, I place a heavy emphasis on Reality Testing as a tool you can use to ensure that your decision-making process is grounded in the real world.

• Accurately assess your environment, resources, and future trends to set realistic plans/goals
• Stay objective, even if you do not like what you see
• Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses objectively
• Resist caving-in and self-defeating talk
• Gather external information to get a better understand of strengths and weaknesses: a.k.a feedback
• Stay aware of biases
• Anticipate and predict situations («Skate where the puck is going»— Wayne Gretzky)

If your decision-making process is not reality based; if you give in to the fear of being wrong; if your process is inhibited by your ego; if you shirk your duty due to potential regret; if you have trouble seeing the forest for the trees (or vice versa), you would benefit from my training in emotional intelligence and reality-based decision making.

Still have questions about Reality Testing? Click here for your FREE 50-Minute Discovery Call.