Decision-making is one of the defining characteristics of leadership. It’s core to the job description. Making decisions is what managers and leaders are paid to do. Yet, there isn’t a day that goes by that you don’t read something in the news or the business press that makes you wonder, “What were they thinking?” or “Who actually made that decision?”. Have you ever wondered what is the RIGHT time to make decision?
Making decisions at the eleventh hour may not be a bad thing after all!The best time of day to make an important decision is 11.59 am while the worst time is after 10 pm, a new study has found.Researchers found that late morning decisions are best because the morning rush is over but hunger for lunch has yet to kick in!
The time of the year also plays an important role, with the most sensible decisions made in the "boring" month of April and the most irrational choices made in December, when people are busy in Christmas preparations.
Decision-making is a distinctly human activity. It’s what that great, big frontal lobe is for. We all make decisions all the time.
But the fact that we’re hard-wired to make decisions doesn’t by itself make us good decision-makers. That takes discipline: discipline to do at least four things all the time and well.
>Realize when and why you need to make a decision.
>Declare the decision: decide what the decision is, how you’ll work it, and who should be involved.
>Work the decision: generate a complete set of alternatives, gather the information you need to understand the possibilities and probabilities, and ultimately make a choice that best fits your values.
>Commit resources and act.
Decision-making is one of the defining characteristics of leadership. It’s core to the job description. Making decisions is what managers and leaders are paid to do. Yet, there isn’t a day that goes by that you don’t read something in the news or the business press that makes you wonder, “What were they thinking?” or “Who actually made that decision?”. Have you ever wondered what is the RIGHT time to make decision? Making decisions at the eleventh hour may not be a bad thing after all!The best time of day to make an important decision is 11.59 am while the worst time is after 10 pm, a new study has found.Researchers found that late morning decisions are best because the morning rush is over but hunger for lunch has yet to kick in! The time of the year also plays an important role, with the most sensible decisions made in the "boring" month of April and the most irrational choices made in December, when people are busy in Christmas preparations. Decision-making is a distinctly human activity. It’s what that great, big frontal lobe is for. We all make decisions all the time. But the fact that we’re hard-wired to make decisions doesn’t by itself make us good decision-makers. That takes discipline: discipline to do at least four things all the time and well. >Realize when and why you need to make a decision. >Declare the decision: decide what the decision is, how you’ll work it, and who should be involved. >Work the decision: generate a complete set of alternatives, gather the information you need to understand the possibilities and probabilities, and ultimately make a choice that best fits your values. >Commit resources and act.
