The right decision every time : how to reach perfect clarity on tough decisions

Drawing on her breakthrough research with 115 CEOs, Luda Kopeikina offers practical, proven techniques for structuring decisions, achieving clarity about the real issues involved, and using that clarity to improve the quality of every decision you make. Kopeikina begins by defining clarity in decision-making, identifying five root causes for decision difficulty, and introducing the “Clarity State”: that singular moment of focus where things fall into place, and solutions become obvious. Next, she introduces a set of powerful techniques for overcoming decision difficulties, stripping away decision complexity, and achieving the Clarity State. Kopeikina concludes with a detailed case study tracing how real executives use these techniques to make crucial strategic decisions. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 10 Introduction......Page 16 Chapter 1 The Key to Mastering Decisions......Page 18 Clarity in Decision Making—Definitions......Page 20 Characteristics of a Clear Decision......Page 22 The Value of Decision Clarity......Page 24 Right Decision and Decision Quality......Page 27 Chapter 2 The Clarity State—Mental Focus Redefined......Page 32 Definition......Page 33 Death Habits to Achieving Clarity......Page 35 Breaking Death Habits......Page 38 Chapter 3 Five Hurdles to Clarity......Page 40 Lack of a Clear Objective......Page 43 Lack of Clear Constraints......Page 45 Difficulty in Dealing with Emotions......Page 48 Lack of a Clear Perspective (Frame)......Page 51 Difficulty in Selecting Among Options......Page 55 Chapter 4 How Do You Make Decisions? Overview of a CEO-Tested Process......Page 60 Part I: Reach and Maintain the Clarity State......Page 64 Part II: Define the Decision—Create a Decision Map......Page 66 Part III: Deal with Emotions......Page 69 Part IV: Achieve Clarity of Perspective......Page 70 Part V: Align with Outcomes—Visualizing the Future......Page 73 Decision-Making in Large Versus Small Companies......Page 75 Chapter 5 You Too Can Reach Clarity at Will!—How to Attain the Clarity State......Page 78 Measuring the Attainment of the Clarity State......Page 81 Learning Your Clarity State—A Five-Step Process......Page 83 Using Clarity State for Decision-Making......Page 89 Chapter 6 No Aim, No Game—How to Achieve Clarity of Objective......Page 94 Why Bother Defining Decisions?......Page 95 Effective Decision Definitions—A Short Course......Page 98 Decision Map......Page 99 Clarity of Objective......Page 100 Worksheet 6-1: Clarifying a Decision Objective......Page 109 What Is a Constraint?......Page 110 Traps to Avoid......Page 112 Process for Clarifying Decision Constraints......Page 123 Worksheet 7-1: Clarifying Decision Constrainrs......Page 124 Example: Achieving Clarity of Decision Definition—Putting Together a Decision Map......Page 125 Expanding Solution Options......Page 129 Chapter 8 Balancing Mind and Body—How to Learn from Your Emotional Cues......Page 134 Recent Scientific Findings About the Link Between Emotions and Reason......Page 135 Learn from Your Emotions......Page 139 The Process of Dealing with Emotions in Decision-Making......Page 153 Worksheet 8-1: Dealing with Emotions......Page 154 Chapter 9 Pick a Fight!—How to Get the Most Out of Clashing Opinions......Page 156 Constructive Use of Disagreements......Page 157 Disagreements and Emotions......Page 166 Process of Dealing with Disagreements in Decision-Making......Page 173 Chapter 10 Everything Is Relative!—Why the Right Frame Is Critical......Page 176 Are You Framed?......Page 177 Value of a Clear Perspective......Page 179 Achieving Clarity of Perspective......Page 186 Frame Artist’s Process of Shifting Perspectives......Page 188 Technique 1: Constraints Relaxation......Page 190 Technique 2: Assumption Stretching......Page 196 Technique 3: Identifying the Crux of the Issue......Page 197 Technique 4: Expanding Your View......Page 201 Technique 5: Shifting a Loss Problem Statement into Gain......Page 204 Technique 6: Looking at Your Decision from the Perspective of a Realized Objective in the Future......Page 208 Frame Artist’s Toolbox......Page 211 Chapter 12 Bull’s-eye!—How to Align with the Right Outcome......Page 214 Educating Intuition—A Brief Overview......Page 216 Arriving at a Clear Choice......Page 224 Process for Clarifying Your Choice......Page 236 Chapter 13 Voilà!—How to Put It All Together......Page 238 Appendix A: Clarity State Decision-Making Technique—A Summary......Page 254 Part I: Technique of Reaching the Clarity State......Page 255 Part II: Define the Decision......Page 256 Part III: Process of Dealing with Emotions......Page 257 Part V: Process of Aligning with Outcomes......Page 258 Appendix B: Additional Tips on Reducing Decision Complexity......Page 260 Clarity of Communication......Page 261 Technique: Creating a Communication Decision Layer......Page 265 Reducing Decision Complexity by Creating Decision Layers......Page 267 Technique: Identifying and Formulating a New Decision Layer......Page 270 References......Page 274 C......Page 282 E......Page 284 M......Page 285 R......Page 286 W......Page 287 KNOWING HOW TO REACH CLARITY on a decision quickly, especially in critical times, is a differentiating mark of an accomplished leader.