This Way or That Way?
Making great decisions is a real skill. Leaders in business need to make decisions all the time, often under huge pressure from shareholders, the public or their colleagues.
This is no different for everyone in their personal lives. There are some difficult decisions we must make that are equally as pressurized in our home life too.
It would be really helpful wouldn’t it, if there was a way to help you make the right decision as much of the time as possible, wouldn’t it?
Five Steps to Easy Decision Making
Answer the following questions and you’ll be well on your way to making the right decision for you and your company, family or friends at this point in time;
1. For what purpose do you need to make this decision now? Your answer will tell you immediately whether you do need to make the decision now or whether you can wait for more information, more time needs to pass or something needs to happen before you can make the decision
2. What will I/the company/the family win or lose by making this decision? – test the answers as though you’ve made the decision one way. Then test it again as though you made the decision the other way
3. If I did nothing, what would happen? Sometimes doing absolutely nothing means that the need to make the decision disappears. I would add though, that doing nothing also has consequences and you need to include doing nothing using question 2 (above)
4. Play the movie forward. Think about a few months from now, a year from now, two, three or five years from now. What will life or work be like with the decision you make. You’ll need to use your imagination because no one can predict the future
5. Rest assured that whatever decision you do make, you made it with the best intentions and with the information and resources you had available at the time you made the decision, i.e. if it doesn’t work out, learn from it, grow from it and trust your instincts more next time!
Ok, that’s six points – trusting your instincts is the best way to make great decisions. Facts, figures and data usually back up what you thought in the first place.
Very occasionally, facts, figures and data will surprise you with an answer you didn’t expect. However, if that unexpected answer doesn’t feel right, look right or sound right for some reason, then it probably isn’t right so go back to your gut feel.
Want to make better decision more often? Contact Rebecca directly on 07734 934084 or [email protected]
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