Summarize the decision-making process.

Summary should include the following concepts:

• There are many models for making decisions—from listing pros and cons, to simple prioritization, to assessment of opportunity cost.
• Decision-making processes may be conditional, based on settings and goals (e.g., individual/group, workplace/social, logical/emotional).
• Good decisions are usually made after identifying the need for a decision, assessing a number of decisions and their potential outcomes, choosing one decision to implement, implementing that decision, and reviewing or evaluating that decision for future reference.
• It is important to identify the effect(s) or potential outcomes on self and others.

Process/Skill Questions:

Thinking

• Why is reflection on past decisions essential to the decision-making process?
• Why might decisions involving your personal life be easier than ones that affect other people?
• Why is making a list of pros and cons for a decision always a good idea?

Communication

• Why does one need to communicate effectively with those who may be affected by your decisions?
• Why is honesty crucial to making good decisions?

Leadership

• Why is it important that an effective leader have open lines of communication with assistants during the decision-making process?
• How is implementing decisions a key leadership skill?
• Why are poor outcomes from decisions often your best teachers?

Management

• Why should you try to avoid making too many big decisions in a short time?
• How do your priorities and values affect the decisions you make?
• What are the most important considerations when making quick but important decisions? (Keep in mind, sometimes enormously important decisions have to be made almost instantaneously.)