Expanding your Decision Making Capability
Background
Over the last 20 years, leadership experts across multiple disciplines have identified a growing gap between the complexity of the workplace and the capability of leaders.
This is known as the complexity gap, as leaders are being required to make decisions without an adequate understanding of their ramifications. The Lectical® Decision Making Assessment (LDMA) was created to help close this gap. It was developed based on the latest research in adult development at Harvard University and validated in highly complex and volatile environments.
The LDMA is designed to support the continuous development of a leader’s decision making skills, so they become better decision makers. Evidence shows that this tool, when used as intended, can double the rate of growth that occurs in conventional coaching or development programs.
Process
How this assessment works is that the person is presented with a real-world, workplace dilemma which they need to review. This dilemma is selected considering the person’s level, role type and organisation size.
They are asked a series of questions, requiring them to: discuss the nature of the problem, describe solutions, compare these solutions, and then describe an ideal decision-making process for similar situations.
Their results are analysed, and the resulting report helps the leader understand how they make decisions, with particular reference to their:
- Collaborative capacity: the ability to bring together diverse perspectives to develop inclusive, innovative, and effective solutions,
- Contextual thinking: the ability to consider problems in terms of the broader systems and contexts in which they are embedded, and
- Cognitive complexity: the ability to think well about complex issues.
Each participant will have a one hour debrief on their results and receive advice and guidance on the learning and development needed to close any identified areas of potential improvement. This advice is customised to the participant’s needs.
Participant Outcomes
Participants walk away with a deep insight into their ability to diagnose, and address complex problems involving multiple stakeholders. They also receive a learning plan that identifies suggested areas for growth and tools, techniques and potential approaches to deliver on those learning goals.
This knowledge helps determines where learning and development efforts for an individual can best be targeted.
For leaders, who are working in a dynamic, changing and challenging environment this knowledge will ultimately help them make better decisions. This has flow on impacts to their peers and team members.
Further details: LDMA tool.
Additional Details
Michelle Gibbings is one of the few accredited practitioners able to use this tool in the Asia-Pacific region.