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    • ldr spring 2011
      • Decision making in uncertain times
        • Practical guide

Practical guide to decision making in uncertain times

Chris Luck’s three key actions that will help you improve your decision making in the face of uncertainty and unpredictability.

1. Develop one vision

A clear vision that is shared and owned by all staff ensures that everyone is working together to achieve common goals. When everyone shares the same vision, decision making becomes much easier even in the face of rapid and challenging change.

2. Get your communications channels right

Positive feedback loops ensure that the school knows how it is doing and can respond flexibility. This helps the school to adapt to sudden and unexpected change. Strategies and effective solutions can then evolve over time.

3. Trust your intuition

There is a role for intuition in decision making at all leadership levels. Listening to your intuition is not the same as abandoning all rational, logical approaches – it is about using what your intuition is saying to you as well as using the hard information you have available. You will need both approaches when faced with uncertainty and rapid change.