Dfcs training for New County Directors Workshop No. 1 Leadership Trainer’s Guide

Trainer’s Note: Encourage interaction but remember that specific county 
information may be sensitive. Keep the interaction at a high-level, if 
possible.
Transition: One of the best practices for taking over was to refrain from 
making immediate changes and decisions. Decision-making is a critical skill 
from the very beginning of your new position—knowing when and how to 
make them 
and 
knowing when not to. Let’s take a closer look at decision-
making now. 
Workshop 1 for New County Directors
50 
Rev/Dec., 2006 

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Trainer’s Guide 
Decision-making
43
Decision-making
z
Set priorities
z
Adhere to your goals
z
Use a systematic 
approach
Show OH 43 (Decision-making). 
Say: Successful decision-making has many similarities to workload 
management. In order to do it properly, you must be able to set priorities, 
adhere to your goals and employ a systematic approach. 
 
Workshop 1 for New County Directors
51 
Rev/Dec., 2006 

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Trainer’s Guide 
Quick Decisions Can Come Back to Bite You 
44
Quick Decisions Can Come Back 
to Bite You
z
Early on, avoid 
responding to requests 
for immediate 
decisions.
•
This requires self-
discipline.
Show OH 44 (Quick Decisions Can Come Back to Bite You). 
 
Workshop 1 for New County Directors
52 
Rev/Dec., 2006 

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Trainer’s Guide 
Responding to Requests for Quick Decisions 
45
Responding to Requests for 
Quick Decisions
z
Here’s how:
•
Listen carefully.
•
Get all the facts from relevant sources.
•
Ask the person making the request for his / 
her recommendations.
•
Decline the opportunity to make the 
decision until you can do it appropriately.
•
Provide an estimated timeframe for your 
decision.
z
CAUTION!
•
Be receptive, but remember that even a 
response like “that sounds interesting” can 
be interpreted as agreement.