How can you ensure your decisions are based on accurate and relevant information?

The importance of establishing the "why" or purpose from the outset cannot be understated. However, it's essential to recognize the inherent human tendency to seek shortcuts. Sometimes, our behavior naturally pushes us to "jump to conclusions" early on, as we instinctively search for the quickest path to a solution or truth. However, to ensure effective decision-making, it's crucial to be intentional in our approach. Here are some strategies to consider: 1. Self-Awareness 2. Seek Feedback 3. Practice Active Listening 4. Challenge Assumptions 5. A Healthy Pause Before Acting This criteria can be a difference between efficient decision-making and ensuring those decisions are well-informed and purposeful. #decisionmaking #criticalthinking

Become research based, data driven and systems/policies aligned. That is safe footing to drive from and also to seek areas of innovation.

Be clear about what’s expected from you, if in doubt, ask for guidance and directions from leadership. Take into consideration all the stakeholders involved. Brainstorm the type of data/information needed to respond. Gather the relevant data/information directly from the source.

I always self-reflect on whatever decisions I am about to make. Consider your short-term, Mid-term and long-term goals and see if that decision fits them. Then, seek counsel from more experienced people in that line. Also, it's essential to research for information from viable sources that can help with your decision-making and, if possible, be realistic about the decisions, especially as they relate to the ever-changing world we find ourselves in.

One thing that I can think of is, seek information that is reliable and has more credibility to the research of information that you are seeking. By taking that step and being diligent in your information gathering and evaluation processes, you can increase the likelihood that your decisions are based on accurate and relevant information, proving to be more effective.

Great points. I also look for the methodology used to gather the data as well as availability of metadata. It’s also good if I can understand their data governance system to verify if proper ethical and due diligence practices are being implemented.

Don't just look at the data that sources offer, but also identify the data they are missing and ask why. Have any articles on a topic deliberately avoided mentioning certain key facts that don't support the writer's opinion? Has a piece of statistical research set its parameters to filter out inconvenient 'outliers' that would actually seriously affect the findings?

I agree and I feel cross referencing your information sources will give better reliability of the information. Another important point is to draw meaningful conclusions from the information example : looking for patterns, correlations or trends.

This is a good place to bring in other perspectives. Having others review your analysis, provide constructive feedback, ask questions that you may not have thought of, can provide additional insights on the information gathered so far as well as potential gaps.

Great points. In addition to these tools, it's also important to be aware of cognitive biases. These are mental shortcuts or patterns of thinking that can lead to errors in judgment. For example, confirmation bias is the tendency to favor information that confirms our preexisting beliefs or values. Being aware of these biases can help to approach information with a more objective perspective.

This is where we can bring others perspective into the picture and analyse it to obtain more information and at the same time we can learn and grasp some useful insights as well.

Understanding your audience is just as important as how you present your results. The foundation of communication is teaching. Spending some time to improve your skills as a teacher pays dividends when you need to present information.

Synthesizing and communicating results is vital in decision-making. After thorough analysis, conclusions must be clear and actionable. Key techniques include: 1. Summary: Offer a concise overview of the main findings. 2. Explanation: Back conclusions with evidence, ensuring the audience grasps the rationale. 3. Visualization: Use charts or infographics for a quick, intuitive understanding of complex data. 4. Feedback: Engage in a two-way dialogue, valuing audience input and refining conclusions. 5. Effective communication bridges the gap between analysis and action, making conclusions both understood and actionable. #decisionmaking #criticalthinking

Consider consciously stopping yourself from going down the rabbit hole of finding the right "information" followed by Analysis Paralysis. 2 Ground rules that I follow- 1) How much time do I have to make a decision? Reverse engineer this and you will land on a number. Consider that number (of hours/days) as a hardstop. 2) Is the decision reversible or irreversible? Make reversible decisions as soon as possible and make irreversible decisions as late as possible (but within a time frame- refer pt 1) I think Jeff Bezos explains it perfectly saying- "Deciding at 70% certainty and then course-correcting is a lot more effective than waiting for 90% certainty and losing the opportunity."