Decision-making

Some say life is a series of choices in its most basic form. In some ways, this is correct. Except it isn’t that simple since life isn’t that simple. This article will help you understand the process of decision-making and thus make making decisions easier.

Sometimes you make the right decision; sometimes, you make the decision right.

Phil McGraw

What is a decision?

Because of the intricacy of life, or rather, living a life, the choices that the ordinary person encounters throughout a lifetime are similarly complicated. These options vary from simple survival considerations (should I eat that mushroom?) to tough moral personal judgments (should I speak out against this injustice and put myself in danger?) All of these selections, obviously, have the option of selecting action and consequence in common. However, because the nature of these different activities and their potential effects differ so significantly, no single method can encapsulate the choice process. Understanding what a decision it becomes vital at this point.

Of course, a decision is an act of deciding something. When presented with a choice, a person makes a choice. The proverbial fork in the road is the most basic example of this. When you get to a fork in the road, you can choose to go left or right. But, first, you pause to reflect before deciding whether to move left or right. Then, you take the course you’ve picked after you’ve made your decision.

Isn’t that plain and obvious? The answer to that question is, to some extent, yes. However, the majority of the time, the answer is no. To become a more efficient and focused decision maker, you must first comprehend all the processes that go into making the decision.

First, there was a problem. The road you were walking on was split in two. Second, there was the problem’s nature; because of the road split, you had to choose between going left versus going right to your destination. To proceed, you had to select between these two possibilities. Third, you used your knowledge, experience, and intuition to determine which choice was best suited to your requirements. Fourth, you took the decision. Finally, depending on that decision, you resume your journey to your destination.

As you can see, even the most straightforward decisions need several steps. Most of the time, we go through these steps instinctively, without even realizing it. This “autopilot” approach to deciding isn’t an issue when the selection is straightforward. However, not comprehending the process might cause problems when making more complicated judgments. That is where decision-making skills come into play.

Some decision-making skills

Some people are born with the ability, while others struggle to make even the most basic decisions. While there are a lot of things that can influence decision-making abilities, it is a skill that can be learned. Therefore, rather than an exhaustive list of skills, I would like to present you with a general direction you can take on your journey to acquire decision-making skills. 

People often dislike making decisions because they do not want to be held accountable for the results. This hesitation is a defensive strategy since people may criticize you if you do not make sound decisions. In addition, it may weaken people’s trust in your capacity to make judgments. You may, however, take actions to prevent this from happening.

Self-confidence

Confidence is an essential aspect of decision-making. As a result, developing confidence will assist you in making selections. In addition, if you appear confident, others are more likely to follow your lead.

Gathering information and researching 

 Making decisions requires gathering the necessary information. You won’t go very far if you start making decisions without having enough knowledge to back them up. It would help if you were well-informed while making decisions, which requires some detective work. Before making significant decisions, you should gather as much information as possible.

Distress Tolerance

You may not have all the required information for one reason or another. In this scenario, you will need to take a leap of faith and make decisions based on your optimism. That’s an unpleasant aspect of the process and occasionally leads to individuals going on the wrong track. However, as long as you make your decision based on the information available, you may be able to defend your decision. Along with confidence, the skill you require at this point is distress tolerance.

Using tools for decision making

There are several tools that you can utilize to help you with making decisions. The two I use most often are very simple. 

Consider coming up with alternatives as part of the decision-making process. First, list all viable options based on the available information. Then, you may rank the choices on whatever scale you like. This grade might assist you in making your selection. For example, you can use a star system or a percentage system (0-100).

Another tool I like to use is the Cost Benefit Analysis. It is straightforward to do it. Take a blank paper and draw a dividing line along the middle. Then, on the left, create the heading “Pros,” and on the right, complete the heading “Cons.” Then, make a list of the pros and cons. You may use this to help you make a choice. Try not to overthink this procedure, as the list may contain some subjective elements.

Overcoming bad decisions 

Nobody on the planet can claim to have never made a wrong decision. People make far too many decisions to avoid making bad ones occasionally. Hopefully, their judgments will have minor repercussions. However, there will be times when you make decisions that have more significant repercussions. 

It will happen. You attempt everything you can to prevent making these bad decisions. Perhaps the information you required was unavailable when you made your decision. Or, whether purposefully or unintentionally, someone provided you with incorrect information. It’s possible that you made a hasty decision without giving much thought to the repercussions. In any event, the end consequence might be an unpleasant and uncomfortable experience. Here are the steps you need to take to overcome bad decisions.

• Accept your emotions; guilt, regret, anger; anxiety are all valid
• Take Responsibility for your part in the decision, don’t try to pass the blame.
• Then focus on the facts to learn the lesson from the bad decision
• Forgive yourself
• Try practicing gratitude 
• Try practicing Unconditional Self Acceptance – You are not your decisions

Conclusion

Making decisions is a prime skill that can be learned. There is a process to it, and tools are available to help you make better decisions. Moreover, a bad decision need not be an end to it all. You can also learn to overcome bad decisions. Want to know more? Have a virtual coffee with me.