A520.3.1.RB_MedinaM.

In order to describe my decision-making style, I needed to have a basic understanding on the different types of decision-making styles. After watching today’s video lesson on routine and complex decision-making, the decision-making style video helps leaders find out what type of decision-making style they most often use. This video is an exercise that is set-up with different terms to which the leader must then choose the best descriptive term that describes them and their abilities. Each term describes what type of style or approach the leader uses when making decisions. This description allows each person to understand and reflect on his or her decision-making style. In turn, this may also help leaders change their negative decision-making style to a more effective and/or positive decision-making style.

After completing the above-mentioned video exercise, I found that I’m a cautious decision maker rather than a risk taker. I believe I’m cautious depending on the situation and the risks involved. The higher the risk the more information I would like to have before making a final decision. When the information is not available I tend to rely heavily on my intuition over logic. At times there will be moments where your past experiences have taught you enough to help you reach a decision and that’s where intuition comes in. You rely on those past experiences and experiences from others to guide your decision rather than rely on logic when there’s a time restriction. Another form of describing my decision-making is through self-motivation rather than be influenced by others. My desire to learn and grow with the company tends to help me stay motivated and focused on my personal and professional goals. No one knows you, your desires and wishes better than you know yourself.

Depending on the problem, the risks, the events would determine my rational/logic behind my decision. Just as I mentioned earlier, if I have the time to make the decision then I would find the information, understand it, and then make the decision rather than let my feelings and emotions guide my decision making. Another set of words that could be used to describe someone’s decision-making style is passive vs. active. The way I like to think about these two words is by thinking how active are you in the company, in making the decisions, and being part of the decision-making process. In my opinion, I believe I’m pretty active when it comes to this. Since its part of my desire to learn and grow with the company I tend to stay active on this aspect. The last sets of words are quiet vs. assertive. I’m a very quiet and shy person when surrounded by those I may not know too well. Therefore, I’m the complete opposite of someone with a forceful personality.

Overall, there could be a benefit on using an in-between approach to decision-making. For times where a decision needs to be made immediately and there’s a high risk involved, a risk taker may make a better “call” than someone who is cautious. Therefore, I think its best to have an in-between approach. A cautious manager must learn when and how to take risks, be intuitive as well as logical, be rational/logic but have feelings and emotions specially when dealing with subordinates, be active but also learn when to be passive, be assertive but also learn when to be quiet and learn from other people’s experiences and mistakes. A manager that is well rounded in all these aspects of decision-making, will know when and what techniques to use to each given problem/situation. This, in my opinion, would help him/her become a better leader.

Source:

Exercise: Decision-Making Styles. (2012, April 2). Films on Demand. Retrieved April 9, 2013, from digital.films.com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/play/7A2UTV#