Decision-making is an essential part of our lives. Everyone needs to use this skill at some point to achieve desired results in the future. Here are 10 effective decision-making strategies that you can use to become a better decision-maker.
Decision-making strategies |
How to Make the Right Decision: 10 Steps to Good Decision Making
Decision making is an essential skill that every person will need to use at some point in their career and to prove that you are good at making the best decision, you will need to make the best possible choice in the shortest possible time, as well as being able to show reasons that support your decisions.
Decision-making is the process of making alternatives and choices between two or more paths, to find the best solution to a problem, and decisions can be made either through an intuitive or logical process or a combination of the two.
Decision-making is an essential aspect of a job's role in some positions, and thus employers need to measure an individual's ability to make informed decisions.
If you are in a position to make the right and fast decision, you are in an unenviable position, but you are bound to succeed, so there are some effective decision-making strategies you can use to become the best decision-maker.
10 Simple Steps to Make the Right Decision in Any Situation
Following are 10 simple steps to develop and strengthen decision-making skills and make the right decision in any situation:
1. Know your goal
When you need to make the right decision, the first thing you need to do is answer these questions: (What do you want? What is your goal? How can you achieve it?).
When you answer these questions, you will understand what you want and need. You will have a great idea about the problem or challenge in front of you, and when you do that it will be easy for you to make the right decision.
2. Understand your options
You can't make a good decision if you don't know exactly how many alternatives and options you already have, so take some time to understand your options.
You will never run out of a list of pros and cons, so make a list of pros and cons for each of the options you have, then go to each option, be honest, and think about what works for you and your unique situation.
3. Give yourself some time
Bad decisions are the direct result of being in the wrong frame of mind and in the wrong emotional and physical state.
If you have a physical problem like not getting enough sleep or if you are hungry, decision-making can be hard for the brain.
So give yourself a time-out, there is no need to go on vacation for a week. Just take a walk around the block or nap for 10 minutes, do some deep breathing or yoga moves, do anything that will take your mind off the decision.
When you do that, your subconscious mind will work properly, and making a decision (even if it's a difficult one) will suddenly be easier.
4. Visualize your future
When it comes to decisions, especially important ones, turn on your imagination and take advantage of the future.
So, close your eyes, clear your mind, and think about how your decision-making process will affect your lifestyle, relationships, and finances, in the future.
When you're done, take a paper and record your thoughts, because writing creates the option that gives you the most long-term benefits, and you'll find it quickly jump into your mind and that's the option you should choose.
5. Eliminate unwanted decision
Making a good decision isn't always about focusing on what you want, it's often also about focusing on what you don't want.
Narrowing your options and eliminating unwanted decisions make it very easy for you to choose the right decision. This process works with any type of decision you wish to make.
6. Don't overthink
Overthinking can prevent you from making a good decision faster, and an obsession with the worst-case scenario is also a bad sign, so stop, take a break and do something physical.
7. Take Your Own Advice
Pretend for a moment that you are not talking to yourself, but to a friend who is in the same predicament as you, what advice would you give him? How will you help him make his decision? After removing yourself from the situation, you can get a clearer perspective and the right decision.
8. Look at others
Sometimes you need to get good advice and gain a different perspective, connect with someone you trust or someone who has lived through similar circumstances.
You can learn a lot from other people's experiences, so don't be afraid to admit you're in trouble and don't hesitate to ask for help.
9. Try to make a good decision
Striving for the best every time is not a bad thing, but remember that the best is not always your only option. Eliminate the pressure and consider other possibilities, as you can be satisfied with the good decision that is appropriate for the situation in which you are in.
10. Trust your intuition
Your instincts are the best weapon in your decision-making arsenal, think of your instincts because they can be the voice of reason.
To harness the power of your intuition, try this simple exercise:
Write down your choices on paper, fold them and put them in a bowl, then close your eyes, and randomly pick one of the pieces of paper from the bowl, when you look at your choice, how do you feel? Happy? Joy? Worry? Not sure?
Your inner reaction is the best guide to making the best choice. With time your instincts will become more accurate and discerning, and when you are good at making the right decisions for you, turning your dreams into reality is very easy.
You will be able to enjoy how your life is developing, even when there are curves or unpleasant surprises, so make the effort to master the art of decision-making.