Continues …
Conceptual decision-making style is also known as holistic decision-making, visionary decision-making, or theoretical decision-making. It finds its spot in the upper right-hand corner of the decision-making dimensions plane.
How to recognize?
Decision-making is for you a chance to let your imagination wander, to dream a bit and to let your team do the same. In the process, you put emphasis on collaboration and call your team to think without limits. You are motivated to make an impact in the world and to come up with new innovative ideas. Your focus tends to flow into the future. This means, that besides looking into the immediate impact of the decision, you evaluate the impact for months or even years down the road. You see the big picture and are comfortable with ambiguity.
Key characteristics
Thinks about the big picture rather than only the problem at hand
Loves open-ended questions and problems with high ambiguity
Is creative and has big ideas
Can effortlessly recognize the underlying problem(s)
Great for
Situations which have a high degree of uncertainty with more than one defined outcome
Situations which have room for experimentation and where results are not required instantly
Situations where creative and integrated solutions are required
Challenging when
Culture lacks psychological safety (where fear of risk and failures are strongly present)
Decision-making has no room for trial and error
The focus is on finding a short-term solution
Lack of time to stop on the big picture
Example
Mary is planning a strategy workshop. She starts the process by pulling entire team together for a brainstorming session, where Mary encourages everyone to think without limits. No budgetary limits, no time limits for the strategy workshop. Full mode creativity on how to best structure the workshop and which environment to host it in. In the brainstorming Mary lands on an ambitious option for the strategy workshop and takes next steps while leaving room for flexibility. Flexibility all the way down to the day of the strategy workshop, where things can efficiently be moved around if need arises.
Next blog will deep dive into directive decision-making style. Check for it in the next few days. If you prefer to be informed when it’s up, then sign-up to the blog below (in the page footer). Please note, that if you sign up, your e-mail address is used strictly ONLY to inform of next blog posting. No marketing, no sales, no use of it for any other purpose. Just simple note when new post is up.
To be continued …