Decisions, decisions and more decisions.
Nothing can get done without a decision being made. It's part of our day to day activities. However some decisions have more of an impact than others.
Should I move out? Should I move globally? What should I wear for tonight? Should I become a engineer? Should I quit my job and start my own company? Should I pursue producing?Should I pursue Song writing? Should I dye my hair? Westfield's or Blue water? What should I have for Dinner? What degree should I pick? What course should I study? What university should I attend? Crop top & skirt or Dress? etc.
Makes me tired just thinking of all these questions.
I listened to Condoleezza Rice the other day and she mentioned the importance of making an informed decision.
It's crucial that you are well informed and being well informed means you've compared scenarios, weighed cons and pros, identified great benefits etc. May sound like a lot. But to be honest, most of the time we've already made a decision, we just need to make sure it's the right one.
Over at Oprah.com I found 7 steps to doing just that.
Keep reading.
7 Steps to Better Decisions
A handy guide to weighing your options.
1. Identify your goal.
As David Welch, PhD, professor of political science at the University of Waterloo in Ontario and author of Decisions, Decisions: The Art of Effective Decision Making, explains, "People who aren't self-reflective are going to end up making bad decisions because they don't really know what they want in the first place." Before you switch jobs, ask yourself: Do I really want a different career? Or do I just want a different boss? Don't make a decision based on the wrong problem.
2. Eliminate choices by setting standards.
If you're trying to buy a digital camera, list the features you'll actually use. Any camera that has them is therefore good enough for you; ignore anything fancier.
3. Don't worry about finding the "best."
How good you feel about your decisions is usually more important than how good they are objectively.
4. Be aware of biases.
They can lead smart people to make dumb decisions. For example: We hate to lose more than we like to win, which can result in behaviour such as holding on to a tanking stock instead of accepting a loss. We remember vivid examples better than facts, which is why plane crashes stick in our heads more than statistics on air safety. And we're susceptible to how information is framed—a "cash discount" is more appealing than "no credit card surcharge." Keeping these biases in mind can help you think clearly.
5. Try not to rush.
People tend to make poorer choices when they're in a bad mood or under a lot of stress. When facing a complex decision, use your conscious brain to gather the information you need, and then take a break. Go for a walk. Spend a half hour meditating. Take a nap. Have a beer. The idea is to give your unconscious mind some time to do its work. The decision you make afterword is more likely to be the right (or at least a perfectly acceptable) one.
6. Don't sweat the small stuff.
When possible, eliminate the need for decisions by establishing rules for yourself. You will go to yoga every weekend. You will not have more than two glasses of wine. You will buy whatever toilet paper is on sale.
7. Do a postgame analysis.
After each decision you make, ask yourself how you felt afterward and what about the experience you can apply in the future.
I hope that helped shed some light on making decisions.
Feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Be you and Be true to who you are.
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