by Michael Useem
October 3, 2006
288 pages
One of the reasons I started studying history and leadership because I have always been curious as to why leaders made the decisions they did. How did ordinary men and women come up with brilliant solutions, foolish choices, or fail to do anything at all? The Go Point helps to answer those questions. Sharing interviews with contemporary leaders and stories of past successes and failures, the author introduces the reader to powerful decision-making tools and strategies.
Useem defines a Go Point as “… the point when a choice gets made, whether no or yes, and the commitment moves from consideration to action”. He uses situations such as the Storm King Mountain Fire, the crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, and the Battle of Gettysburg to illustrate consequences of the decisions made and lessons learned from those decisions.
Some takeaways you may discover:
· Recognizing “Decision Traps”.
· The value of reflection and after-action study.
· Understanding the relationship between authority and decision making.
· Ways to educate your instincts.
· How to avoid analysis paralysis.
· Reduce uncertainty and preserve your options.
· Strategies to address repeated failures.
In addition to the stories and strategies, the chapter "Making Decisions", contains several thought-provoking simulations. The simulations illustrate the challenges of group decision making while demonstrating decision-making tools in action. The book reminds us to consider the human side of decision making, in addition to the business side.
A leader’s days are filled with decisions- big and small. Effective decision making keeps your organization moving forward, mitigates mistakes, and inspires confidence. Check out The Go Point- it’s a choice you won’t regret.
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