Decision Making

How to avoid ‘the escalation trap’

October 1, 2013
Making a bad decision is bad enough. Just don’t dig yourself into a deeper hole. You’ll save time and headaches by avoiding what experts call “the escalation trap”—escalating your level of commitment to a lost cause.

Eisenhower’s toughest decision

August 8, 2013
On June 2, 1944, all the pieces were in place for the largest amphibious assault in world history. Planning for D-Day fell to Supreme Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower. The only unknown? The weather. How did he make one of the most consequential decisions in history?

Show leadership the ‘first 10 days’

August 8, 2013
Given the general acceleration of things, the “first 100 days” as a measure of an executive’s effectiveness, first used in 1933, has sped up. So how would that work for a new CEO?

Making strong moves

July 19, 2013
Tim O’Shaughnessy, founder of the daily deals company LivingSocial, truly is social in his approach to leading. He also likes bold new approaches.

Your guide to making better decisions

June 21, 2013
A leader’s most important job is making good decisions. Step back and improve yours: Consider several options, think objectively, be fair and curb your enthusiasm.

Strategic management: Too much data poses risk

April 29, 2013
With so much information at our fingertips, it’s tempting to rely on data to make important decisions. But don’t overlook other variables. Consider the case of a big U.S. bank CEO.

Stumped? Consult ‘the crowd’

April 11, 2013

Do you rely on your “golden gut” when making decisions? Or do you believe that other people in your organization have expertise or opinions that can help make your decisions better? Greg Burrill, owner and founder of home-builders WGB Homes, is in the second camp.

Cultural gaps can spell merger disaster

March 20, 2013
To bring cultures together, identify differences in attitudes and work habits. Then address the differences so that everyone gains a better understanding of their colleagues’ perspectives. Skip this step and conflicts can erupt. This occurred after Daimler-Benz acquired Chrysler in 1998.

Mohawk CEO keeps the answers simple

March 14, 2013

Gain a competitive advantage by keeping things simple. That’s the lesson of Mohawk Industries CEO Jeff Lorberbaum, who starts with plain speaking, without buzzwords or complicated jargon.

Ask 6 questions to identify the problem

January 25, 2013

Begin every conversation geared toward problem-solving by identifying the problem and how it might be solved. Six questions should guide your actions.