Strategy & Decisions
Decision Making Skills
Clarify which decisions are yours, question assumptions, and weigh options against clear criteria to act promptly and confidently.
Standard version
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Many people hesitate on decisions not because they lack judgment, but because they are unsure which decisions are theirs to make. This course builds the mindset and practical tools to make timely, well-reasoned decisions, especially for people stepping into greater responsibility. Participants clarify their decision authority, question their own assumptions, practice a repeatable process for tough calls, and learn to move forward with confidence when they do not have all the answers.
What you'll learn
- Determine which decisions are theirs to make, and when to consult or escalate.
- Recognize and question the assumptions behind their own conclusions before acting.
- Apply a repeatable process for testing a decision under pressure.
- Evaluate options against weighted criteria rather than intuition alone.
- Distinguish reversible decisions from hard-to-reverse ones and adjust their pace accordingly.
What you'll be able to do
- Act on decisions within their authority without unnecessary delay.
- Escalate the right issues to the right people at the right time.
- Make decisions based on clear criteria they can explain to others.
- Move quickly on reversible decisions and slow down on high-consequence ones.
- Move forward with confidence even without complete information.
New supervisors and team leads often hesitate not because they lack judgment, but because they are unsure which decisions are theirs to make. This course gives federal employees stepping into greater responsibility a practical, repeatable approach to making timely, well-reasoned decisions. Participants clarify their decision authority, question their own assumptions, and practice moving forward with confidence when information is incomplete.
What you'll learn
- Determine which decisions are theirs to make, and when to consult or escalate.
- Recognize and question the assumptions behind their own conclusions before acting.
- Apply a repeatable process for testing a decision under pressure.
- Evaluate options against weighted criteria rather than intuition alone.
- Distinguish reversible decisions from hard-to-reverse ones and adjust their pace accordingly.
What you'll be able to do
- Act on decisions within their authority without unnecessary delay.
- Escalate the right issues to the right people at the right time.
- Make decisions based on clear criteria they can explain to others.
- Move quickly on reversible decisions and slow down on high-consequence ones.
- Move forward with confidence even without complete information.