From Karan’s Research, Read About One of the Top Seven Leadership Execution Tactics
Mastered by the World’s Most Successful Leaders

While it feels good to know what to do next, in the workplace it is more common to find yourself bewildered as to the next best course of action. Successful leaders constantly have to “crack the code of the unknown” to find an answer, by gathering the people and data which will help you make the most informed decision possible.

Leading with Strategic Decision-Making is the ability to make good decisions or lead a good decision-making process, based on top strategic goals and priorities.

Individuals with a high acumen in Strategic Decision-Making not only make good and timely decisions, but they also are able to navigate making tough decisions with incomplete information, sometimes under tight time constraints. Leaders that exhibit strong Strategic Decision-Making acumen are able to think ahead and determine any industry trends or workplace dynamics that have the potential to impact future operations. They also appropriately involve other stakeholders in the decision-making process.

What does “Leading with Strategic Decision-Making” look like in individuals?  They . . .    

• Make good and timely decisions based upon a mixture of analysis of facts, experience, and judgment
• Think ahead and identify trends which may impact future decisions
• Make tough decisions, sometimes with incomplete information and under tight deadlines
• Appropriately involve others in the decision-making process
• Take into account how decisions may impact the future

What is the “differentiating value” provided when demonstrating Strategic Decision-Making? 

• Top priorities and goals are always at the forefront
• The buy-in of other stakeholders is accelerated
• The gap between making a decision and taking action is greatly decreased
• Eliminates “decision-making fatigue” in teams and organizations

What does Leading with Strategic Decision-Making look like in the workplace?

Let’s look at a real world example of leading with Strategic Decision-Making using the popular online streaming media and video-on-demand company, Netflix.

When Netflix was founded, it chose to focus its payroll dollars, technology budget, product fulfillment, and marketing on an e-commerce business model instead of a traditional in-store business model.  They evaluated research data and market trends on human movie consumption.  They also involved a ton of super-smart consultants, advisors and staff to figure out how to increase their chances of disrupting a status quo market.  

At the end of the day, their strategic decision-making process gave them a long-term competitive edge over Blockbuster Video and other in-store movie companies, many of whom eventually went out of business.

What value does Strategic Decision-Making provide in the workplace?

Leaders that exemplify a high degree of Strategic Decision-Making acumen provide organizations with a competitive edge. So much so, that the ability to make fast, widely supported, high-quality strategic decisions, on a frequent basis, is a highly sought after competency in today’s top leaders.

Strategic Decision-Making involves six important tactical elements: anticipate, challenge, interpret, decide, align, and learn. Those with a strong acumen in Strategic Decision-Making know when to make decisions alone, when to involve others in the decision-making process, and when to step aside and let others decide. Their ability to make the appropriate choice ultimately contributes to them becomomg more respected and gaining confidence with their followers.