We use our decision making skills to
solve problems by selecting
one course of action from several
possible alternatives.
Decision making skills are also
a key component of time management skills.
Decision making can be hard. Almost any
decision involves some conflicts or
dissatisfaction. The difficult part is to
pick one solution where the positive outcome
can outweigh possible losses. Avoiding
decisions often seems easier. Yet, making
your own decisions and accepting
the consequences is the only way to stay
in control of your time, your success, and
your life. If you want to learn more on how to make a decision, here are some decision making tips to get you started.
A significant part of decision making skills
is in knowing and practicing good decision making techniques.
One of the most practical decision making techniques can be summarized in
those simple decision making steps:
Identify the purpose of your decision. What is exactly the problem to be solved? Why it should be solved?
Gather information. What factors does the problem involve?
Identify the principles to judge the alternatives. What standards and judgement criteria should the solution meet?
Brainstorm and list different possible choices.
Generate ideas for possible solutions.
See more on extending your options for
your decisions on my
brainstorming tips page.
Evaluate each choice in terms of its consequences. Use your standards and judgement criteria to determine the cons and pros of each alternative.
Determine the best alternative. This is much easier after you go through the above preparation steps.
Put the decision into action.
Transform your decision into specific plan of action steps. Execute your plan.
Evaluate the outcome of your decision and action steps. What lessons can be learnt? This is an important step for further development of your decision making skills and judgement.
Final remark. In everyday life we often have
to make decisions fast, without enough time
to systematically go through the above
action and thinking steps.
In such situations the most effective
decision making strategy is to
keep an eye on your goals and then let your
intuition suggest you the right choice.
Simplify your selection process with a decision matrix
Process your decision making situation one byte at a time to build a decision matrix. Then do a straightforward calculation to arrive at the relative overall ratings for your alternatives.
The power of intuition in decision making
Intuition can greatly enhance the effectiveness of your decision making, especially when it complements rational analysis. Get a better idea of where intuition fits best and how to use it properly.
Smart Choices : A Practical Guide to Making Better Decisions
Learn more on how to make a decision.
Even if you are already quite decisive and
confident in your decision making, this book
will still extend and complement your current
abilities. You learn a number of
simple and systematic strategies that will
upgrade your effectiveness in
practically any decision making situation.
Additional decision making tips to protect you from many hidden traps.
Review of Decision Making Skills
A table listing certain elements
of decision making skills and giving
a few practical illustrations on how to make decisions.
