Good leaders are good decision makers. But as most seasoned executives will tell you, making the right judgment call can be one of the most challenging aspects of assuming a management role. Keep the following key principles in mind.

Gather Information Carefully

To make an informed decision, you need good information. And thanks to the Internet, gathering data is much easier than it used to be. Too much information, however, can lead to overload. Before you start gathering research, carefully decide what you need to find. Then establish the criteria you're going to use to make a decision.

Become Aware of Your Biases

A bias is a preexisting attitude or judgment that diminishes your ability to objectively evaluate information. While it's impossible to eliminate your biases completely, it's important to acknowledge them and try not to let them affect your judgment.

Talk It Out with Others

Seek out people you can use as sounding boards for important decisions. The confidants you select should be candid and knowledgeable enough to provide objective feedback. You don't need advisors who tell you what they think you want to hear.

Trust Your Instincts - Sometimes

Intuition is any thought or opinion that simply feels right to you. Occasionally, when making decisions, logic tells you one thing but your intuition tells you something else. The best advice: Consider your intuition during the decision-making process, but don't allow it to blind you to the facts.

Define Success

Learn to judge the effectiveness of a decision based on the process, not the outcome. While a project may turn out to be more expensive or time consuming than initially expected, consider whether it has accomplished the goal. The right decisions are those made by considering the best information available at the time.

Occasionally, you'll make the wrong decision, but don't let this undermine your confidence level. Simply acknowledge your mistake, learn from it and move on. The more decisions you make, the more adept you will become at making the right call.