In this series, we have been looking at decision making from three unique perspectives. First, we explored decision making and human behavior - how our DiSC styles impact how we process decisions and judgements, especially as part of a team. Next, we revealed ways we unconsciously sabotage decision making…without even realizing it. Today are sharing one of our best secrets by using a concept from our Decision Focus® toolkit!
Many years ago we created this system because we saw a need for better ways to transfer valuable critical thinking skills to leaders and teams. In workshop after workshop, attendees told us one of the most valuable tips for making better decisions was to use our CAR acronym.
Why? Because the CAR approach breaks down decision making into three easy-to-remember steps.
Today we’ll focus on the C in Car, which stands for Criteria.
C – Criteria
Secret: Use the language of Musts and Wants
Criteria are the factors to consider when making a decision. They are the key requirements needed to make the decision outcome a success. For example, when making a large purchase price is typically one of the most important factors. But there are other criteria too, right? Things like quality, speed of delivery, customer service, etc.
Here's the lesson: Not all criteria are of the same importance in decision making.
For team decisions, it’s crucial that team members agree on key criteria that will drive the decision-making process. And like we discussed previously, there are certain things that each DiSC style will focus on when making a decision.
D-styles want to make this decision quickly, even if it can be deemed risky.
i-styles will likely gain consensus from many folks prior to making a decision.
S-styles are reserved and will seek to understand a problem from many angles.
C-styles will take as much time as they need to make sure they get it right.
This is where the concepts of Musts vs Wants is hugely valuable.
Musts are the mandatory, non-negotiable requirements of a decision. They determine the minimum requirements any alternative option must meet or exceed in order to be considered. Musts are typically related to money, time, specifications, and other minimum requirements. If an alternative fails to meet any of the Musts, it is eliminated from consideration.
Wants are the other important factors to consider when evaluating alternative options. Wants help reveal the best option from the those being considered. Wants are any factors that help the final choice to be the best decision possible. The key is to take this a step further by assigning weights to each want. What do we mean? You can elevate a want in priority by assigning a higher weight, or place less priority by assigning a lower weight. See our example below and how we have classified the tough decision of hiring the right teammate.
Example – Hiring a new team member
Musts: Relevant college degree | minimum 2 yrs experience in related field | WFO 2 days a week
Wants: Advanced degree (2) | maximum related experience (4) | team player (7) | ability to manage multiple projects (9) | track record of positive results (10)
In our experience, when there is clarity on the Musts and Wants (and the priority of each want) decision-making instantly becomes faster and yields better results.
Ready to dial up your team's decision making effectiveness? Check out one of our decision making workshops or online courses!
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