Sunday 13 October 2013

Crisis Decision Making- Top 5 Tips




In previous posts we examined information management and operating a fast OODA Loop. This post looks at some tools to help crisis decision-making. Here are five things to consider.

1. Key Questions: Have a system to guide your decision making that analyses the situation and allows you to use your experience and intuition. Think about the questions you need to ask and write them down in advance. They should help you (1) understand what is going on and the implications of that, (2) appreciate what needs to be done and why, (3) be clear on where your priority lies and (4) identify, resource and co-ordinate tasks. Practice this technique to make its use second nature - rehearse, rehearse, rehearse!

2. Get Your Intention Across: Remember those completing a task may encounter unforeseen problems. Be clear about what needs done (the task) and why (the intent - unifying the purpose of many tasks).  Understanding the intent affords your teams the freedom to adapt the task if they encounter a difficulty and still achieve the intent.

3. Achieving a Focus: There will be lots going on so, to avoid dissipation of effort, make it clear where the focus lies. Define what is critical for success and make sure everyone knows and is working towards that. It can help to define the end state - what will success look like?

4. Using Resources: Resources are scarce so use them wisely. Allocate resources to those tasks that support your focus. Others will have to wait. Remember that not everything will go to plan, so have spare capacity.

5. Using Time Effectively: The one resource that can’t be regenerated is time. If you have to take decisions then think about those who will have to implement them. Leave them the time to do that. Work out how much time is available between starting the decision process and the resulting actions needing to take place. Then use 1/3rd of that time to take the decision and leave 2/3rds for everyone else to actual carry out the tasks the decisions generate.

Our next item will be focusing on a handy tool when it comes to decision making that allows you to combine thoroughness whilst not sacrificing experience, gut feel and intuition so keep watching and following. To avoid missing out why not simply opt to follow our blog by submitting your email address. You will get each post emailed to you as they are posted.

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