The Way I Like to Make Major Decisions

We all have our ways of making major decisions. A brief description of my own would be:

I like to see the background material and the analysis in writing. I then can use that as a basis for discussion but you'll lose me with only an oral report.

Give me more than three options. The three options approach tucks a moderate option between two extremes, such as "Do nothing" and "Do a lot," and as a result the middle option looks more attractive than it may deserve. Besides, when there are more than three options, we really start to get creative.

Crazy ideas are welcome. As we brainstorm, we may find that the crazy idea makes sense or that a portion of that spliced onto a more conventional option may produce a formidable approach.

Along those lines, I like to think out loud so the fact that something is mentioned doesn't mean I favor it. I also tend to stare off in the distance a lot when sorting those thoughts. Rapid agreement makes me wonder what we've overlooked.

I am not chained to previous approaches and am willing to throw aside one of my ideas if someone else has something better. We are not here to score personal points. Major turn-off phrase: "We've always done it that way."

I prefer the best but will accept the "highest attainable under the circumstances." I'm not inclined to second-guess the person who is closest to the action. Easily reversible decisions can be made quickly. Decisions that are hard to reverse should be made slowly.

The overall approach comes from Hannibal: "We will either find a way or make a way."

That's mine in a nutshell. How would you describe your decision-making style?