Do you have several items on your wish list that you have had for a long time?
According to research, people do what they decide to do. However, not everyone finds it easy to make a decision. It is complicated by –
- the need to be right.
- the fear that a better option will become available later.
- the pressure to keep everyone happy.
- the fear of commitment.
As a result, we either miss out on the opportunity entirely or make a diluted decision that we find uninspiring and difficult to commit to. This is true for both business and personal decisions.
What if you could create criteria to assist you in making decisions?
Here are some helpful hints to improve the quality and speed with which you make decisions –
- Clearly define the problem you’re attempting to solve. If you can’t describe the issue in one or two short sentences, you’re probably not clear about it yet.
- Consider the significance of your choice. Consider how this decision will affect your life/business/others. Based on this, you can determine how much time you need to devote to the decision-making process, whom you should consult, what resources you require, and so on.
- Set a deadline for yourself. Establish a time frame within which you will make your decision. Allow time to collect data, analyze it, and reflect on the results. The deadline will keep you from becoming bogged down in analysis paralysis.
- Give yourself choices. Understand your default decision-making procedure. Consider whether you make decisions based on intuition or collect and analyze data until the last minute. Do you go it alone or gather as much feedback as possible? Consider how you arrived at the five recent decisions you made. How did you make your last five decisions while under stress? This exercise will reveal whether what you believe about your decision-making style and what you actually do are in sync. Once you’ve determined your style, make your decision using your default pattern as well as alternative methods. Increasing your options will help you make better decisions.
- Be conscious of your biases. Validate the assumptions underlying your decisions and their likelihood of being correct.
- Take responsibility. You may seek feedback from many sources, but keep in mind that you are ultimately responsible for the outcome.
In conclusion, making decisions can be challenging, but by following these simple steps, you can increase the quality and speed of your decision-making process. By defining the problem, considering the significance of your choice, setting a deadline, giving yourself options, being conscious of your biases, and owning the responsibility for the outcome, you can make informed and confident decisions that will benefit your life or business. Remember, the most important factor is to stay true to yourself and your goals, and never compromise on your values and beliefs.
PS –
– Is decision making a challenge for you? Book a complimentary discovery meeting and explore coaching with me as a solution.
– This blog was first published on LinkedIn as part of ‘Your Career Matters’ series.