4 Decision-Making Styles: Which One Is Yours?

"&lt;p&gt;Throughout your career, you will be in a situation where you have to make a choice that is often crucial to your business or the company you work for.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;What many people underestimate is the importance of your&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;personality traits&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;in the way you make decisions.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;According to a research done by Lebanese medical students on&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-020-00406-4&quot;&gt;Personality traits, emotional intelligence, and decision-making styles&lt;/a&gt;: &amp;quot;Higher extroversion was associated with lower rational decision-making style, whereas higher agreeableness and conscientiousness were significantly associated with a higher rational decision-making style.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;More research on this topic lead scientists to distinguish&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;4 major decision-making styles&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;that are subject to your personality traits, and that, according to many leaders, should be adapted depending on the various situations you can be put in.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h1&gt;Why do You Need to Identify Your Style?&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;The purpose of this blog isn&amp;#39;t just for you to know of the existence of these decision-making styles, but for you to know which one is yours.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;This will:&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Boost your self-confidence:&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;When you realize that you are not the only person who makes their choices in a certain way, that your decision-making style has several advantages, you will surely be making decisions more confidently.&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Develop your strengths:&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;Knowing the strengths of your style, will give you a chance to work on them, and become a better decision-maker.&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Understand your weaknesses:&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;as Michael says&amp;quot;Every form of strength is also a form of weakness.&amp;quot; Your decision-making style, just like any other, has its inconveniences, and you must be aware of them, and able to address them when you need to.&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;h1&gt;The 4 Major Decision-Making Styles:&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;Researchers have distinguished 4 major decision-making styles that are highly connected to one&amp;#39;s personality traits:&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;1-&amp;nbsp;Directive Style&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;Directive decision-makers are rational people, who like to base their choice on their own experience and knowledge. They do not usually see the need in involving anyone else in the process or even asking for their opinion. They are known for strictly following the rules, taking quick decisions, and being excellent verbal communicators.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Most Directive decision-makers see others who work with them as employees who work &amp;quot;under&amp;quot; them, and who must follow the decision that they see to be the best.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;If you follow this style, then you have a low tolerance for ambiguity, and will probably not be able to make a choice is in the long run.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;One should be aware of the strengths and weaknesses that come with the directive style:&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;Pros:&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;Quick decision-making: effecting in crisis&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;Simple, clear solutions&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;h2&gt;Cons:&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;Can rush decisions&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;Only focuses on short-term results&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;Lack of flexibility&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;h2&gt;2- Analytic Style&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;If you enjoy long problems and puzzles, like to ponder on a math equation, and love working with numbers, then you&amp;#39;re probably an analytical decision-maker.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Analytic decision-makers don&amp;#39;t recognize &amp;quot;quick decisions&amp;quot;: for them, it is necessary to collect as much information as possible, besides their own insights, and analyze them thoughtfully. They are rational logical thinkers and have a high tolerance for ambiguity.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Over-thinkers are usually analytic decision-makers since they do not leave a single detail without analyzing it, weighing its pros and cons, which brings us to this style&amp;#39;s advantages and disadvantages:&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;Pros:&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;Uses all evidence available&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;Compare alternatives&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;Consult others&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;h2&gt;Cons:&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;Time-consuming&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;Low resistance to pressure&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;Can be controlling&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;h2&gt;3- Conceptual Style&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;If you are adventurous, creative, and intuitive then you&amp;#39;re probably a conceptual decision-maker. You probably have a high tolerance for ambiguity as well.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Unlike analytic decision-makers, conceptual decision-makers look at problems from an artistic angle and like to come up with solutions out of the box.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Some say that highlight extroverted people fall within this style since they&amp;#39;re future-oriented, and love talking to others.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;Pros:&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;New ideas&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;Risk-taking&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;People-oriented&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;h2&gt;Cons:&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;Low rational thinking&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;Can ignore some crucial data&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;h2&gt;4- Behavioral Style&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;This decision-making style revolves around making the right choices, in a short or long duration of time, as long as each one of those involved has contributed to the process and agreed upon the same settlement. When it comes to information, behavioral decision-makers would prefer to collect and judge it intuitively rather than analytically, after thoroughly hearing everyone&amp;#39;s views and feelings.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Just like any decision-making style, the behavioral style has its ups and downs.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;Pros:&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;Team members/meeting attendees comfortable around each other&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;Team members/meeting attendees feel important and valuable&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;receptive to the advice given by others&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;h2&gt;Cons&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;Hard in situations of conflict&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;em&gt;Very&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;low tolerance for ambiguity&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;h1&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;h1&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h1&gt; &lt;p&gt;No matter what decision-making style(s) you find yourself keen on; to be a successful leader, you have to recognize that, although following that one style matching your personality type and traits may be effective as it comes instinctively, sometimes, you have to adapt your style depending on the circumstances you&amp;#39;re facing.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;After knowing these 4 major decision-making styles, which one do you think is yours? And when do you think is best to adapt it?&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;If you found this blog insightful, why not share it with you friends?&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Looking forward to hearing what decision-making styles you found to be yours. By the way, mine is the behavioral one. What&amp;#39;s yours?&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Drop it in the comment section below.&lt;/p&gt;"

4 Decision-Making Styles: Which One Is Yours?

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