What is Resilient Decision-Making?

There’s no doubt as to the importance of decision making.

It shapes an organisation’s future – and depending on the decisions taken, and their impact, can ultimately prove its success or failure.

Former French Emperor succinctly stressed the importance of careful decision-making in his words: “Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide.”

But whilst the outcomes of decisions can often be paramount, we should take a step back and consider how we address the whole process of decision making.

Do we bounce from crisis to crisis, making snap decisions which, whilst urgent at the time, could prove disastrous in the future?

Or do we take a more informed approach analysing and reflecting on all the possible options and outcomes through a process of resilient decision making?

What is your standard approach to Decision-Making? Photo Invading Kingdom Unsplash

Resilient decision makers embody my definition of Resilience, which is “Springing Forward with Learning”.

Resilient decision-making addresses what can be done about problems, within stakeholders’ control, to deal with uncertainties.

Many times, the uncertainties that businesses face can bring about negative or even catastrophic impacts if they’ve no tools in place to deal with such scenarios.

In the corporate world, resilience means finding and implementing solutions that allow organisations to survive, adapt, and grow in the face of stress and shocks, and even transform when conditions require it.

In resilient decision making, stakeholders can rely on cross-shared learnings, strengthening systems so that instead of working in a reactionary way on relief and rebuilding, they can plan ahead to solve and address problems before they happen.

Resilient leaders become more agile and adaptable and build confidence in their decision making.

They become energised by decision making – asking people for their support to make them feel motivated and engaged.

Their style of communication is “here’s the situation, this is what I think, what does everyone else think,” before reviewing all options and making a carefully informed, correct decision.

Look out for the next three blogs in this series – “How to develop resilient decision-making,” “What’s the importance of resilient decision-making,” and “What are the benefits of resilient decision-making?”

If you need further information about this approach, or any other resilience topic, please contact russell@theresiliencecoach.co.uk.