So how can we apply this knowledge to our day-to-day at work?
How we approach decision-making has a huge impact on our working life. Are we open or resistant to organisational change? How does our approach to decision-making impact upon our colleagues? Is our approach to decision-making similar to that of our team, so that we may be overlooking potential blind-spots? For example, a team of board members discovered that their approach to decision-making was calm, level-headed and stress tolerant, which sounds great on paper, but can this absence of emotion result in a lack of urgency when implementing initiatives to remain competitive, or perhaps come at the risk of not learning from past mistakes?
Another example. A team may be experiencing conflict with their manager. The manager is meticulous and considered in his approach, whereas his colleagues are used to being able to think on their feet and are at their best in fast-moving situations. By being aware of these differences in approach between manager and team members, everyone in the team can maximise the benefits of diverse opinions and preferences, and understand more about where particular strengths lie.
How can you make more effective decisions?
By understanding yourself and how you’re likely to approach situations, you can:
- Choose to make decisions that play to your strengths
- Know when to ask for help from those who may naturally take a different stance from you
- Work on these areas which don’t come naturally to you, but where you aspire to develop
A healthy decision-making team needs to be diverse, especially in its sensitivity to risk. A team where each individual is aware of their personal biases (and we all have them), is most likely to be effective. If you are aware that you are impulsive in your approach to risk, why not seek feedback from a more meticulous colleague? Or if you find yourself risk averse in your decision-making, why not consider the opinion of a more carefree peer? This is the route to more balanced, and inclusive decision-making.
Want to know more about how you approach decision-making? Click the button below to find out via a complimentary version of our Risk Type Compass assessment. And if you’d like a 15-minute feedback session on your report, get in touch.
