Managers face difficult situations often. They take the responsibility for critical decisions which can determine the future of their companies. Leaders who succeed in the tough world of business are the ones who can make right choices. The key to making the correct determinations lies in a manager’s problem solving process. Here are some proven techniques for guiding you toward the best solutions.
Seek Advice: While you make the final choices for your company this does not mean you should work on problems alone. Take issues to your team of workers, other professionals and even your customers when you have a challenging prospect before you. Their input will likely aid you in making the best decision possible.
Draw on Your Past Experiences: Consider your wealth of prior knowledge before rushing toward a solution to a new problem. What have you learned from similar situations? You can use the valuable information from previous dealings to help you decide how to handle a current issue.
Take Advantage of Technology: Today’s advances in technological tools often gives you a decided edge in your making decisions. You can use software to create graphs, run numbers and list likely outcomes of various scenarios. Hard data can take away personal biases that might otherwise cloud your discernment.
Consider Future Ramifications: Focus not only the immediate result of a possible decision but its possible long-term effects. While some solutions can provide a temporary fix, they could cause more problems in the future. Weigh the pros and cons careful and aid for positive action. You will likely need to take risks but you must make sure your company can withstand possible outcomes.
You will find practicing your decision-making will strengthen the process. Take advantage of input from other people, from technology and your own experiences to come up with the best choices for your company’s current and future needs.