MSc Clinical Leadership
Develop Decision-making Skills
Introduction
Working in the University as nursing demonstrator and clinical instructor in leadership and management module, my role is to assist students, evaluate their presentations, overlook their projects, and supervise them in the clinical area. Therefore, I am leading, instructing, and making decisions. However, making a decision sometimes seems very difficult. I noticed that I am unable to make a good decision in my work, as I frequently face unusual problems (non-programmed), such as nurse managers being uncooperative with students, and refusing to give them clinical practice in some units. I feel there is no easy solution and therefore I become highly stressed, and cannot think clearly, and need to help.
Decision-making is an essential activity for managers and leaders (Hoff, 2004). However, it should be noted that the process of decision-making is important for all individuals in their lives (Holistic Management, 2000). Harris (2009) stated that bad decision-making from choosing incorrect alternatives results in anxiety, uncomfortable feelings, and time wasting.
The aim of this paper is to develop a Personal Development Plan (PDP) to improve my decision-making skills, starting from 7 January to 7 September 2010, to be effective when I return to my fieldwork. Firstly, I will evaluate my leadership strengths and weaknesses. Secondly, I will review decision-making through the literature (my PDP will be stated in the appendix). Finally, I will deliver my PDP with decision-making processes based on evidence and practice.
Leadership strengths and weaknesses
In terms of my leadership strengths and weaknesses, there are several tools that can be used to evaluate myself. However, it is reported that the 360 degree tool is accurate and accepted by other individuals (Garavan, Morley and Flynn, 1997). With 360 degree, I discovered that I am a good planner and have the ability to prioritise my goals with a rate of 8 out of 10, and 7
Introduction
Working in the University as nursing demonstrator and clinical instructor in leadership and management module, my role is to assist students, evaluate their presentations, overlook their projects, and supervise them in the clinical area. Therefore, I am leading, instructing, and making decisions. However, making a decision sometimes seems very difficult. I noticed that I am unable to make a good decision in my work, as I frequently face unusual problems (non-programmed), such as nurse managers being uncooperative with students, and refusing to give them clinical practice in some units. I feel there is no easy solution and therefore I become highly stressed, and cannot think clearly, and need to help.
Decision-making is an essential activity for managers and leaders (Hoff, 2004). However, it should be noted that the process of decision-making is important for all individuals in their lives (Holistic Management, 2000). Harris (2009) stated that bad decision-making from choosing incorrect alternatives results in anxiety, uncomfortable feelings, and time wasting.
The aim of this paper is to develop a Personal Development Plan (PDP) to improve my decision-making skills, starting from 7 January to 7 September 2010, to be effective when I return to my fieldwork. Firstly, I will evaluate my leadership strengths and weaknesses. Secondly, I will review decision-making through the literature (my PDP will be stated in the appendix). Finally, I will deliver my PDP with decision-making processes based on evidence and practice.
Leadership strengths and weaknesses
In terms of my leadership strengths and weaknesses, there are several tools that can be used to evaluate myself. However, it is reported that the 360 degree tool is accurate and accepted by other individuals (Garavan, Morley and Flynn, 1997). With 360 degree, I discovered that I am a good planner and have the ability to prioritise my goals with a rate of 8 out of 10, and 7
References: Adair, J. (2007) Decision-Making and Problem Solving Strategies. Philadelphia: Kogan Page. Arsham, H. (2009) Leadership Decision-Making. [online]. Available at: http://home.ubalt.edu/ntsbarsh/opre640/partx.htm [Accessed 12 January 2010]. Baker, D. et al. (2002) Guidebook to Decision-Making Methods, Department of Energy, USA. [online]. Available at: http://emi-web.inel.gov/Nissmg/Guidebook_2002.pdf [Accessed 19 December 2002]. Bandman, E.L. and Bandman, B. (1995) Critical Thinking in Nursing. 2nd ed. United States: Appleton and Lange. Baumgartner, J. (2006) The Step by Step Guide to Brainstorming. [online]. Available at: http://www.jpb.com/creative/brainstorming.php [Accessed 23 December 2006]. Bell, A. (2004) Ten Steps to SMART Objectives. [online]. Available at: http://www.natpact.nhs.uk/uploads/Ten%20Steps%20to%20SMART%20objectives.pdf [Accessed 4 January 2010]. Bnet (2008) How to Implement a Decision. [online]. Available at: http://jobfunctions.bnet.com/abstract.aspx?docid=359455 [Accessed 7 January 2010]. Businessball (2009) Problem-Solving and Decision-Making. [online]. Available at: http://www.businessballs.com/problemsolving.htm [Accessed 3 January 2009]. Cognitive Tool (2003) Software Easy-Mapping-Tool [online]. Available at: http://www.cognitive-tools.de/brainstorming software/brainstorming_software_english.html [Accessed 12 January 2003]. Diebel, J. (2008) The Top 10 Barriers to Decision-Making. [online]. Available at: http://homepage.ntu.edu.tw/~karchung/decision_making_class.pdf [Accessed 18 December 2009]. EMconsult (2009) Personal Barriers. [online]. Available at: http://emconsult.com/pers_barriers.htm [Accessed 23 December 2009]. Finkelman, A.W. (2006) Leadership and Management in Nursing. United States: Pearson Education. Foreman, P. (2010) Six Thinking Hats Mind Map. [online]. Available at: http://www.mindmapinspiration.co.uk [Accessed 2 January 2010]. Garavan, T.N., Morley, M. and Flynn, M. (1997) ‘360 degree feedback: its role in employee development’, Journal of Management Development 16(2): 134-147. Grohar-Murray, M.E. and DiCroce, H.R. (2003) Leadership and Management in Nursing. 3rd ed. United States: Prentice Hall. Hansen, R.S. and Hansen, K. (2000) Using a SWOT Analysis in Your Career Planning. [online]. Available at: http://www.quintcareers.com/SWOT_Analysis.html [Accessed 8 January 2010]. Harris, R. (2009) Introduction to Decision-Making. [online]. Available at: http://www.virtualsalt.com/crebook5.htm [Accessed 17 October 2008]. Hoff, K.S. (2004) ‘Leaders and managers: Essential skills required within higher education’, Higher Education. 38(3): 311-331. Holistic Management Pty (2000) Persuasion, Decision, Commitment - Decision-Making: Rational Decision-Making Methods Holistic Online (2007) Decision-making Under Stress. [online]. Available at: http://www.holisticonline.com/Stress/stress_decision-making.htm [Accessed 18 December 2007]. Huber, D.L., (2006) Leadership and Nursing Care Management. 3rd ed. United States: ELSEVIER. Klein, G.A. (1999) Sources of Power How People Make Decisions. United States: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Labelle, S. (2005) Six Thinking Hats. [online]. Available at: http://members.optusnet.com.au/charles57/Creative/Techniques/sixhats.htm [Accessed 7 May 2005]. Marquis, B. and Huston, C. (2003) Leadership Roles and Management Functions in Nursing. 4th ed. United States: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. McNamara, C. (2008) Basic Guidelines to Problem Solving and Decision-Making. [online]. Available at: http://managementhelp.org/prsn_prd/prb_bsc.htm [Accessed 7 January 2008]. Mendham, T. (2009) Six Thinking Hats. [online]. Available at: http://www.wyrdology.com/mind/creativity/thinking-hats.html [Accessed 13 December 2009]. Mind tools (2009) Introduction to Decision-Making Techniques. [online]. Available at: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_00.htm [Accessed 7 January 2010]. Mind Tools (2009) The Delphi Method. [online]. Available at: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_95.htm [Accessed 7 January 2010]. Morrisone, M. (2009) How to Write SMART Objectives and SMARTer Objectives. [online]. Available at: http://www.rapidbi.com/created/WriteSMARTobjectives.html [Accessed 9 December 2009]. Parcon, P. and Press, L. (2006) Book Summary Preview: Develop Your Decision-Making Skills. [online]. Available at: http://www.bizsum.com/2page/b_DevelopYourDecisionMakingSkills.php [Accessed 20 January 2010]. Patrick, N. (2008) Managers-Net: Brainstorming. [online]. Available at: http://www.managers-net.com/brainstorming.html [Accessed 25 January 2008]. Raymond, J. and O’Brien, J.L. (2009) Under Pressure: the Impact of Stress on Decision-Making [online]. Available at: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/164511.php [Accessed 19 January 2010]. Science Daily (2009). Past Experience is Invaluable for Complex Decision Making, Brain Research Shows. [online]. Available at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090513130930.htm [Accessed 15 May 2009]. Srinivas, H. (2008) Information for Decision-Making. [online]. Available at: http://www.gdrc.org/decision/info-decision.html [Accessed 14 December 2009]. Starcke, K., Wolf, O.T., Markowitsch, H J. and Brand, M. (2008) ‘Anticipatory stress influences decision-making under explicit risk conditions’, Behavioral Neuroscience 22(6): 1352-60. Steven, T.G. (2005) Systematic Problem Solving Method: Make Better Decisions. [online]. Available at: http://www.csulb.edu/~tstevens/wsps.htm [Accessed 1 January 2009]. Sullivan, E.J Swinton, L. (2007) How to Make Decisions: Six Hats Thinking. [online]. Available at: http://www.mftrou.com/six-hats-thinking.html [Accessed 10 July 2007]. The Writing Centre University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2007) Brainstorming. [online]. Available at: http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/brainstorming.html [Accessed 8 August 2008]. Time Management Guide (2005) Use a Decision Tree Analysis to Systematically Arrive at Your Smartest Choice. [online]. Available at: http://www.time-management-guide.com/decision-tree.html [Accessed 20 December 2009]. Wilkins, L. and Chandler, A. (1964) Confidence and Competence in Decision-Making [online]. Available at: http://bjc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/pdf_extract/5/1/22 [Accessed 18 January 2010].