Mar 14 2008
What Decisions Are And What They Are Not
Decision making is an essential requirement of management and the very best leaders appear able to make crucial decisions effortlessly “standing on their feet” But what exactly is a decision – and what is it not?
According to the dictionary, the verb ‘decide’ means ‘to determine, to end, to resolve, to settle and to make up one’s mind’, while the noun ‘decision’ is ‘the act of settling, making up one’s mind’, etc. Someone in a position of power is said to be a ‘decision-maker’ and we refer to those who do make up their mind as ‘resolute’ or ‘decisive’.
The Latin root of the word means to ‘cut away’. This points to what a decision really is: to cut away the surrounding clutter, to enable one to see a path to an objective and, by taking a decision (or a series of decisions), to follow that path with all of its implications.
What it is not – A decision is not allowing events to take their course willy-nilly. If you did, an outcome would still occur – but one not influenced or decided upon with due regard to the surrounding circumstances. Such an outcome represents an inability or lack of desire to analyse and reach a conclusion; control has been surrendered. This might not matter – for example, when merely choosing what perfume to wear – but can be of major consequence where commercial or other vital decisions are required
Decision-making is about deliberately opting for one choice from two or more, proactively to optimise a situation or outcome and not let it happen by default.
It is also about trying to minimise the element of chance or risk in life, by taking decisions and actions that will influence the outcome in one’s favour.
To sum up, decision-making is:
• The selection of an option over others (which could include no action)
• Under conditions that are uncertain
• Which exposes you to a risk
• In order to reach a specified goal, objective or outcome.
There must be a choice and it must be taken proactively, otherwise it is merely an occurrence.
Today’s News: 
It is almost ready - ASP Profile is the most accurate and sophisticated sales competence assessment tool available and represents the culmination of fourteen years ongoing research and experimentation.
It has involved consultation with hundreds of individuals, including: captains of industry, psychologists, professional buyers and front line salesmen and women from every industry sector.
The end result is that we are now able to recognise the three levels of selling that exists – four in fact, if you include sales management – and as a consequence, we have produced a model at each level that accurately profiles the characteristics and working styles of the very best performers. It assesses existing strengths, limitations, and ongoing development requirements in three specific areas: - Attitude, Skills, and Process.
ASP Profile is totally interactive and reports are generated within minutes, enabling you to make rapid decisions.
Next week, you wll be able to download a copy of the prospectus, but in the meantime you may want to find out more here
This advertisement was brought to you by The JF Consultancy 
Tomorrow: France play Wales to decide the winner of the Six Nations - that’s Europe’s answer to Super Bowl, but without all the body armour and advertising
But, I do have so much reading to catch up with, so maybe, just maybe, a day off? Wherever you are, have a great w/e - JF
