Summary of "Decision-Making Styles"

Summary of Key Points on Decision-Making Styles

Decision-making varies based on:

Four main decision-making styles:

Authority or Expert Style ("I decide")
- Decision made independently by a leader or expert.
- Quick decisions.
- Advantage: Fast and clear responsibility.
- Disadvantage: Others may feel excluded; quality depends on one person's expertise.
- Best for crisis or when expert knowledge is essential.
- Important to communicate decisions and rationale to those affected to avoid alienation.
Consultative Style ("I decide with your input")
- Leader gathers input from others but makes the final decision.
- Balances inclusion with decisiveness.
Traditional Majority or Voting Style
- Decision based on majority preference.
- Quick and democratic.
- Useful for gauging group sentiment.
Consensus Style ("We decide together")
- All affected parties participate.
- Decision made only when everyone agrees.
- Inclusive but time-consuming.
- Aims to satisfy all perspectives.

Two broader categories:

Decision-making approaches to information and options:

Information use:
- Maximizers: Seek the best possible decision by thoroughly analyzing all data; well-informed but slower.
- Satisficers: Act once they have enough information to meet needs; faster but possibly less optimal.
Option creation:
- Single-focus decision makers: Commit to one course of action.
- Multi-focus decision makers: Generate multiple options and adapt as circumstances change.

Practical advice:

Choose decision style based on context and urgency.
In crisis, Authoritative style may be necessary.
For fairness and buy-in, democratic styles are better.
When using authority style, communicate clearly with those impacted.
Be aware of your natural tendencies (maximizer vs. satisficer, single vs. multi-focus) and how they affect decisions.