Decision-Making for Managers

About this course

Managers make decisions every day with incomplete information and competing priorities. Good decisions are not about being right every time; they are about being clear, timely and fair, and about bringing the right people along. This course gives you a practical method for framing problems, weighing options and deciding with your team's input.

What you will be able to do

• You'll be able to frame a decision clearly, including the outcome you need and the constraints
• You'll be able to weigh options using evidence, risk and impact
• You'll be able to decide with the right level of team input and communicate the outcome well
• You'll be able to review decisions and learn from them without blame

Course outline

1. Types of Management Decisions

   10 min · Lesson notes, example, action task · 2-question quiz

   Not all decisions are the same. Some are yours alone, some need team input and some belong to someone above you. Knowing which type you are facing decides how you should approach it, how much time to give it and who needs to be involved.
2. Framing the Decision

   10 min · Lesson notes, example, action task · 2-question quiz

   A well-framed decision is clear about what needs deciding, by when and what a good outcome looks like. Many poor decisions start with a vague problem, so frame the decision before looking at options.
3. Gathering Input Efficiently

   10 min · Lesson notes, example, action task · 2-question quiz

   Gathering input from your team works best when it is efficient and purposeful. Ask the people who will be affected what they know, set a clear time for input and avoid endless consultation that delays the decision.
4. Comparing Options Clearly

   10 min · Lesson notes, example, action task · 2-question quiz

   Comparing options well means judging each choice against your success measures, not against gut feeling. Consider the impact, the risk and the cost of being wrong, and always include doing nothing as an option.
5. Communicating and Reviewing Decisions

   10 min · Lesson notes, example, action task · 2-question quiz

   A decision is only useful when people understand and act on it. Communicate the decision clearly and promptly, explain the reasons, and review it on an agreed date to check whether it is working.
6. Careers & next steps

   10 min · Lesson notes, example, action task · 2-question quiz

   Decision-making is central to management roles and many specialist leadership roles. This lesson maps the roles this skill leads to and how to check what they are worth.
7. Final quiz and certificate

   10 questions, pass mark 8 of 10. Pass to get your Reesby Academy certificate with a verification link.