Each day is a series of decisions & you might think you make them mindlessly. However, most people have the dominant decision-making style. Well, there’s a common method in the way one approaches choices. Some of the decision-making styles are productive as compared to others.
For instance, if you write out multiple pros & cons, you might waste your time overthinking instead of trusting your gut.
Moreover, gathering all the relevant data before making a decision is great when you have concrete, accurate information at your fingertips.
So, understanding your preferred decision-making style can give you the confidence to make & implement decisions without giving it a second thought. Moreover, if you know an approaching decision falls in your area of weakness, you can proceed cautiously, seek other’s input & use it as a growth opportunity.
What Are Decision-Making Styles?
There are four major decision-making styles which everyone uses.
However, knowing your decision-making style can make you a better leader. While making an apt decision is crucial, leaders must be mindful of their approach, as their choices can affect employees differently.
Here’s a breakdown of each style for you to understand better.
1. Directive Decision-Making
Directive decision-makers prefer a high level of structure & make decisions based on technical outcomes. When considering possible courses of action, they focus on their own knowledge, i.e., their gut feeling, past experiences, etc.
The advantages are as follows:
- This style is relatively rapid as directive decision-makers do not seek extra data.
- The style doesn’t require much effort, which reduces decision fatigue.
- The method maintains momentum.
- The decision-maker doesn’t seek feedback, resulting in fewer conflicts.
- This style is simple & makes it easy for leaders to evaluate the facts.
The disadvantages are:
- Lack of consultation
- Solutions might be unrealistic
- Can result in an autocratic way of thinking
- Outcomes are conventional
- The leader might make decisions based on incomplete data
2. Analytic Decision-Making
An analytical decision-maker tends to prefer a low level of structure & make decisions based on technical outcomes. They collect huge volumes of data from various sources & further pore over it to evaluate every solution before settling for one.
The advantages are:
- Detail-oriented
- Make predictions more accurate
- Negligible biases & preconceptions
- Considers unconventional options
The disadvantages are:
- Consumes time & energy
- Managing large volumes of information can be successful
- Result in analysis paralysis
- It’s a risk-averse approach
3. Behavioral Decision-Making
Behavioral decision-makers prefer high levels of structures & make socially oriented decisions. They map out some courses of action, seek feedback, & try to build a consensus regarding the best method/ path.
In addition, leaders with this approach tend to favor a consultative management style.
The advantages are:
- Incorporates diverse opinions & experiences
- The decision-maker is open to persuasion & remains humble
- Employees feel they are listened to
- Collective ownership
The disadvantages are:
- Requires time for building consensus
- Might lead to conflicts
- More focus can be put on keeping each employee happy
4. Conceptual Decision-Making
These decision-makers prefer a low level of structure & make socially oriented decisions. Instead of providing stakeholders with a predetermined set of possible outcomes, conceptual decision-makers brainstorm with stakeholders to seek & develop creative solutions.
The advantages are:
- Tackles problems at their root
- Encourages creative problem-solving
- Leads to innovative solutions
- Allows calculated risks
- Prioritizes big-picture thinking
- Includes careful consideration of ethical issues
The disadvantages are:
- Time-consuming
- Can be challenging to translate theory into practice
- Hard to evaluate the results
What’s Your Style?
While reading about these decision-making styles, one method might call out to you.
Well, chances are that this is how you make decisions. However, if you are still wondering which style you prioritize, consider the following questions:
1. What level of structure makes me feel comfortable?
Consider whether you prefer ambiguous, open-ended situations with numerous correct answers or highly structured situations where you choose between a few apparent alternatives.
2. What’s my main priority when making a decision?
Consider whether you seek out numbers & concrete outcomes or talk to people & aim to maintain group harmony.
Upon finding the answers to these two questions, compare your ambiguity tolerance & technical v/s social priorities in order to determine your decision-making.
Adapt All Decision-Making Styles To The Situations At Hand
Great leaders are self-aware. They know when to play to their strengths & when situations call for a different approach.
Here’s when to call on each decision style.
1. Use Directive Style When:
- You have to make a quick decision
- There are limited alternatives
- There aren’t any ethical issues to tease out
- You are in a stable situation with predictable cause-&-effect results
2. Use Analytical Style When:
- You wish to examine multiple alternatives in detail
- There’s a lot of information available
- There’s enough time to think
- You need to do some digging to understand the relationship between cause & effect
3. Use Behavioral Style When:
- The decision will have a major impact on the stakeholder’s life
- There’s enough time to reach a consensus
- You are looking for practical instead of creative solutions
- You need to make team members feel included in the decision
4. Use Conceptual Style When:
- There is an environment of psychological safety
- A novel solution could result in a major breakthrough
- You have to plan for the long term & prepare for uncertainty
- Your decision is ethically complex
- You need to create a new option instead of choosing between existing ones
It’s Time To Make Better Decisions
Getting to the right decision is a journey & knowing different decision-making styles is really important.
However, it is vital to note that making better decisions isn’t just about arriving at the best solution; it is also about developing communication skills in order to get others on board, analytical skills to determine whether your decision worked or not, & humility to admit when you have made the wrong choice.
Well, the good news is that diversifying your decision-making process at work isn’t just for the benefit of those around you – it is also for you to make better decisions & be more decisive, flexible, & open to lifelong personal growth.
Lastly, if you intend to know more about decision-making styles, don’t forget to check out our website RILC Academy. Our experts will help you out with all your concerns & doubts.
Also Read: Secrets Of Leadership
