How to Decide
What to do when you can't decide
When you are faced with a decision to make, here is the best way to approach it:
- State the decision in form of a 'yes or no' question.
- List all the reasons for; then all the reasons against.
- Keep asking 'What else?'
- Always add additional lines to stimulate the mind.
- Decide a weighting system that gives enough flexibility.
- Be honest and objective.
- Add up the numbers and the decision is made.
1. State the decision in form of a 'yes or no' question.
The first step is to reduce the decision to a single line question, which may be answered with a simple Yes or No.
Wording the initial question is the vital step to making a good decision.
Ensure the question is worded in a balanced manner.
Be sure that you do NOT imply a bias in the way you word the question. For example:
Should we destroy our future by doing X or should secure our future by NOT doing X? Is a biased question.
A non-biased version would be: Should we Do-X or Not-Do-X?
2. List all the reasons for and all the reasons against.
List all the reasons for and against the decision.
Ensure that you do not repeat the same point, simply by rewording a single reason in many ways. For example:
I should buy a bigger car, because I need a bigger boot space.
I should buy a bigger car, because I don't want to struggle with carrying my luggage.
3. Keep asking 'What else?'
Keep listing all the reasons for affirming the decision, until your brain runs dry of reasons, or you end up repeating yourself.
4. Always add additional lines to stimulate the mind.
Keep adding unfilled spaces to your list to stimulate your mind to think of more ideas.
5. Decide a weighting system that gives enough flexibility.
We suggest you score all the reasons out of 100.
- 100 means maximum importance.
- 001 means minimum importance.
Score out of 100 every reason FOR X; then every reason for NOT X.
6. Be honest and objective.
Don't cheat yourself by skewing your scores to fit a predetermined opinion, that you had in the back of your mind, before you started the analysis.
7. Add up the numbers and the decision is made.
When you have weighted each reason for both sides of the decision, add up the totals and the decision is made.
Decision Maker App
Our free Decision Maker App will guide you through the above process and help make you make your decision.
I want to decide right now, take me to the Decision Maker App!
Blogs by Email
Do you want to receive an email whenever we post a new blog? The blogs contain article 5-10 minutes long - ideal for reading during your coffee break!
Further Reading in Personal Effectiveness
-
What is Your Purpose?
Your purpose is to add value to others, either your boss, your organisation, your customers, or friends and family. If you are able to give value to others, you will get others to willingly cooperate and work with you. A win-win situation all round.
Read Article > -
How to Respond to any Situation
Many people tend to be irrational or emotional when faced with a problem or tricky situation. Unfortunately, this approach will not lead to the best outcome. Evaluate situations by being logical and rational when assessing all the available facts.
Read Article > -
Happy at Work
Your organisation runs best when employees are working in cooperative, happy teams. Teams that possess a "positive mental attitude" are happier and more productive.
Read Article > -
Water: Your Essential Partner for Outstanding Workplace Performance
Water: neglected yet essential. Beyond quenching thirst, it fuels workplace performance with biological intricacies. Don't underestimate its power in our demanding professional lives.
Read Article > -
Personal effectiveness - Emotional intelligence training
Emotional intelligence has two major components. The first element of emotional intelligence training is developing the art of being able to manage your own emotions, so that you are able to achieve the optimum emotional response that is appropriate to the circumstances that face you. The second element of emotional intelligence...
Read Article >
Looking for Personal Development Training?
If you're looking to develop your Personal Effectiveness Skills, you may find this Personal Development Training Course beneficial:
Open Training Course Pricing and Availability
Next Open Course Starts in 10 days, London - Central, places available