We all make decision as leaders, but we don’t all make decisions the same way. Our personalities influence what becomes important and prominent in our decision-making. In this episode, I explore the two dichotomies that help explain how we make decisions. Then, I discuss strategies leaders can use with folks who have preferences for each dichotomy in order to understand how we can make better decisions.

Thinking preference

Analysis
Objective
Egalitarian

Tips for leaders who prefer thinking:

Watch out for over-analysis
Listen to how people feel about the situation
Know that you can’t always be perfectly objective – consider the other side too

How to lead those with a thinking preference:

They are going to want data
Coach them if they might appear cold to others
Watch out for impact on one person

Feeling preference

Impact on people
Values-based (my work – what inspires me)
Individual considered

Tips for leaders who prefer feeling:

Spend time to consider the data in your decisions
Know that the business work tends to understand “thinking” better
Watch out for getting to tied into one person or cause on a decision

How to lead those with a feeling preference:

Discuss how decisions will impact people
Coach them to consider data in their decisions and explanations of their decisions
Talk in terms on decisions and values

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46: Personality Preferences and Decision-Making

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