The Ideal Decision-Making Process
Decisions, Decisions!!
It's estimated that the average adult makes about 35,000 remotely conscious decisions each day; the consequences of which are both good and bad. (https://www.pbsnc.org/blogs/science/how-many-decisions-do-we-make-in-one-day/)
Decisions are choices made between two or more alternatives. It involves the selection of a course of action based on information and hopefully reasoning. Decisions can range from simple everyday choices to complex strategic ones.
The consequence of a decision is actually a solution to a problem. What will I wear today? What will I make for lunch/dinner? Should I read a book or go for a walk? How should I approach another person about a personal issue? Solutions are a means of resolving a problem or addressing a challenge. It is a specific course of action that is designed to solve a problem or address a need. Solutions are the result of a decision-making process, and involve the selection of the best option from a range of alternatives.
In short, decisions (choice) lead to a solution; solutions are the result of a decision-making process.
When the solution of a decision is of little consequence our thoughts are often reactive or like a reflex. Very little time is spent figuring it out. If it was the wrong decision, no harm done.
But some decisions are very difficult and we have many strategies for dealing with them for our gain or for our loss.
When the solution of a decision is of little consequence our thoughts are often reactive or like a reflex. Very little time is spent figuring it out. If it was the wrong decision, no harm done.
Everyone approaches decision-making differently and what works for one person may not work for another. Being aware of the not-so-good decision-making strategies as well as the good ones helps make more effective and informed decisions. By understanding the potential pitfalls in decision-making, we can avoid common mistakes and instead implement strategies that are more likely to lead to positive outcomes.
Being aware of the not-so-good decision-making strategies can help us to recognise when we may be relying too heavily on those approaches and make adjustments accordingly. This self-awareness can lead to more intentional and thoughtful decisions and solutions and reduce the likelihood of making impulsive or totally emotionally-driven decisions.
Some not-so-good decision-making strategies:
Acting impulsively without considering the potential consequences
Relying solely on intuition or gut feelings rather than facts and logic
Being overly influenced by emotions and personal biases
Avoiding decision-making altogether and procrastinating
Making decisions based on incomplete or incorrect information
Failing to consider the impact of the decision on others
Being overly influenced by others without considering your own values, beliefs, and goals.
The more significant the consequence however, the more time should be spent in the decision-making process and may often include collaboration with others..
Self-awareness can lead to more intentional and thoughtful decisions and solutions and reduce the likelihood of making impulsive or totally emotionally-driven decisions.
Ideally, the key components to finding the best solutions are:
Critical thinking:
The process of objectively analysing and evaluating information and arguments, and making informed decisions based on evidence and sound reasoning. The critical thinking process involves several steps, including problem definition, information gathering, reasoning and logic, identifying biases, alternatives evaluation, evidence-based decision making, and reflecting on the decision.
Emotional Intelligence (EI):
The ability to recognise, understand, and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. It involves self-awareness, empathy, mood regulation, conflict resolution, and the ability to work well with others. EI helps individuals to understand and respond to the emotions of others, regulate their own emotions, and effectively manage and resolve conflicts.
Information gathering & analysis:
The process of gathering the right information and understanding the situation fully. It is essential to research the problem and collect data from relevant sources to get a clear understanding of the situation. Once you have the necessary information, it is important to analyse the data to identify patterns and correlations that will help to make a more informed decision.
Problem-solving skills:
The ability to identify the problem, generate options, and evaluate the potential outcomes. When faced with a problem,it is important to consider multiple perspectives and approaches to find the best solution.
Creativity:
Thinking outside of the box, especially when faced with a complex problem, and exploring new and creative solutions allows you to come up with new and innovative solutions to problems.
Objectivity:
Putting personal opinions, and emotions aside and considering the facts objectively allows the situation to be free from the limitations and restrictions that personal biases create.
Good Judgement:
The ability to weigh options, consider risks & benefits, and to make informed choices using all the relevant information that aligns with your values and goals.
Adaptability:
The willingness and ability to adjust the decision-making process as new information becomes available leads to relevant solutions.
Communications skills:
Especially when working with others, the ability to effectively communicate decisions and reasoning to others to ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goal.
Ethics & Values:
Maintaining integrity through alignment of decisions with personal values and ethical principles ensures a level of comfort with the outcome.
Collaboration & Teamwork:
Working with others to make decisions that benefit the group leads to better outcomes and increased success.
Good practices for decision-making plays a crucial role in finding the best solutions as it involves the process of choosing a course of action from several alternatives. It helps individuals and organisations alike, to identify the problems, evaluate the options, weigh the consequences, and to choose the most appropriate solutions. Effective decision-making helps to ensure that resources are used effectively, goals are met, and desired outcomes are achieved.
Factors such as who is affected, how critical the outcome is, how many people are involved, availability of resources, time, etc. will determine how many of these components need to be employed to come to the best solution.
Trying to use all these components to create solutions to 35,000 decisions a day wouldn’t work!
A single decision can lead to an automatic cascade of decisions and solutions that don’t need to be thought through. This is what I call a “habit trail.” A discussion for another time 😁
Thank goodness we have brains that can make simple decisions without much thought, quickly!
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I have coached and mentored individuals, and facilitated small groups for over 30 years. I am a strong proponent of walking the walk and talking the talk. When I know something works, I like to pass it on to others!
Go to heatherlynnecoaching.com/workshops for more information and to register for my upcoming workshops or seminars!
About Heather O ‘Reilly
I have coached and mentored individuals, and facilitated small groups for over 30 years. I am a strong proponent of walking the walk and talking the talk. When I know something works, I like to pass it on to others!
Join me and start your journey to spark meaningful change in your life. Discover new strategies and develop good habits by registering for our upcoming workshops at heatherlynnecoaching.com/workshops