Decision-Making in Project Management (Part 3)

Decide immediately on the obvious

Sometimes one option offers advantages and the alternatives offer disadvantages. It helps to be aware that there are no-brainer situations that do not require further consideration.

Check responsibilities

Responsibilities have been defined in clearly defined organizational structures. I often receive requests and thoughts that concern a colleague’s area of responsibility. In such cases, I decide to stay out of it. Otherwise, the motto is: “The person who has to bear the consequences should make the decision.”

Delegate responsibility

Colleagues often ask for decisions that they could easily make on their own. By trusting them and saying, “I’m sure you can make the best decision on your own,” I boost their self-confidence and relieve myself of the burden. A clear framework, such as a cost limit, can be specified.

Do it immediately

In everyday life, we are often confronted with short interruptions that only take a few seconds or minutes of our time to deal with. If possible, I respond immediately (see introduction). This not only eliminates a potential power imbalance, but also shows my appreciation to the other person and protects me from later interruptions.

Saying no

When I have to decide whether to take on additional responsibility, I use the space between stimulus and response. Every commitment has its price. Almost always, a new commitment implies giving up an existing promise. This consideration is complex and requires time and calm. Rejections are met with understanding when I can explain what I am doing instead.

That’s why I’ve established a rule to only make such commitments after a period of reflection.

Rule-based decision-making

Our everyday lives are shaped by patterns. Over a limited period of time, the parameters often remain unchanged. In such cases, I can make similar decisions in similar situations. Regular reviews allow me to adjust the rules and remain agile.

We make up to 1,000 conscious decisions per day. That’s one decision per waking minute! Since most decisions only require our working memory, we only remember a fraction of our decisions in the evening. Our bodies, on the other hand, remember every decision we didn’t make. Do you know that unpleasant feeling of having forgotten something and not being able to remember exactly what it was?

If we decide to always write down important things, we can reassure ourselves in the evening.

If we make quick decisions about things that can’t be put off, this list stays manageable. Making serious decisions in a conscious and purposeful way takes time. I save this time by using the time I have available wisely: things that aren’t very serious can be decided quickly. I’ve developed a few strategies for this in my everyday life.