10 Ways to Avoid Bad Decisions.
Decision. n. The act or process of deciding; of making up one’s mind.
For many people, commonly those who are considered decisive, this process presents no problems at all.
Unfortunately, for many people regardless of their age, education or gender, making a decision, exercising a choice can be a stressful and perplexing activity; sometimes taking them to the verge of paralysis.
Yet this should not be so, and need not be so if sound thought processes, or strategies are implemented.
Take a moment to walk with me through a simple, sequential thought map that will allow even complex decision-making to become easier.
The world we live in derives much of its activity and wealth from influencing people to purchase, act or make choices that sometimes are not in their best interests.
Often our ability to choose is compromised, to the point where we are making seemingly unwise or even involuntary decisions.
This is the domain of marketers and other professionals whose role, and goal is to get us to behave according to their wishes; to sign-up for; to purchase; or to act without thinking (the essence of impulse purchases).
But what if there was a simple process whereby we could disarm those who seek access to our credit cards, and always make sound decisions that result in our best interests being cared for?
Well, there is…
With some careful thought, mixed with a little will-power and practice, the natural enemies of sound decisions can be defeated.
These enemies include:
• Peer pressure, that almost irresistible pressure applied from those near to us to follow their wishes; to conform.
• Undue haste, the act of making a decision without taking the time or effort to think it through
• Procrastination, the opposite to haste, yet it delivers the risk of not making a decision at all, or in a timely manner so we miss opportunities.
• Hormones & ego. What can I say: every one of us has natural urges to act or behave in certain ways; yet we should learn to harness and control these rather than allow them to control us.
• And let’s not forget the marketers who bombard us with messages to buy their products or services every day (and night)
So how can we make good decisions consistently, without being over-run by the complexity and scale of the decision at hand…
Firstly, it’s a process, taking one step at a time.
Just as the old cliché answers the philosophical question of how do you eat an elephant: one bite at a time!
There are ten simple steps to making a good decision, which, once understood and practiced, become second nature and just happen instinctively; effectively armour-plating us against bad decisions; ten filters that will sift out the confusion, frustration and often the paralysis of decision-making.
As we apply each step or filter in succession, we eliminate more and more of the possible options or choices, and so the whole decision becomes progressively, incrementally easier.
And as we narrow down the field of choices, and can then devote more energy to the remaining options making it just so much easier.
We take out the complexity and scale of the issue one step at a time until it becomes an easy decision; and a correct one!
Lets start…
Is it Legal
Is what we want to do legal; does it break any laws of the land?
If it’s illegal, then don’t do it; straight away many possible options just vaporize, narrowing down our possible decision and making our decision easier.
Is it Ethical
Many things can be legal, but not ethical.
This could refer to customs or standards of behavior relative to where we live or work.
Usually the law of the land doesn’t tell us how to comply with customs; yet it is not good etiquette to break with custom in many instances; for instance eating, clothing, behavior.
There can be strong unwritten laws such as cultural law forbidding or requiring certain standards of behaviour.
And sound ethics will mandate that any decision we take does not harm other people’s interests or the natural environment we live in.
If a decision we face complies with the laws of the land, does not infringe on relevant customs and is ethical, then we have eliminated many possible choices and our decision has just got a lot easier.
Does it fit with our values
Every person has a set of values they live by.
Some people have documented these, which is a really good idea as our values are a template for our life and articulate how we think, act and behave.
Our values are a pattern, a foundation from which to make good decisions; a firm, stable guide in times of stress, difficulty and tiredness.
It is paramount to ensure that any decisions we take, are in alignment with our internal values.
We should all spend the time to develop our own personal values statement. It need not be more than three or four sentences in length, but it will define how we live.
Take the time to do this, as it is key to making good decisions.
Does it fit with our life vision
Does the choice we face fit with our life plan.
Like our personal values, a life vision or plan will help steer us through every decision, every challenge and every opportunity we face.
Once we develop a vision for our life, many choices simply go away, as they don’t fulfill our vision and become irrelevant.
Take the time to develop this. It also need not be lengthy, but it should be thought through and ideally, documented and placed somewhere handy so we can see it every day.
By now, the choice we face has become much, much easier.
Do our peers or inner circle approve
Most people have a close peer group, call it an inner circle if you wish that know them and understand them. These could be our friends, family or partners.
When faced with a major decision, we should take the time to ask our close confidants for their opinion. This doesn’t mean that we are necessarily bound by the wishes of others, but it does mean that we have applied the collective wisdom of those around us to a particular decision.
This second opinion can save us from lots of pain.
Is it common sense
This might be regarded as being too subjective by some, but if that’s what it takes to make a good decision, then so be it.
Some decisions can be entirely legal, ethical and even moral; but can be really, really dumb!
Sometimes all we have to do is take a step back and think about it a little before making a decision.
Caution: this is exactly what some marketers and spruikers DON’T want us to do, for this is the essence of impulse buying.
Just think carefully, putting all emotion and ego aside if possible for a little while and think about it.
Is it a good idea
Have we thought it through, and put the intellectual energy into an idea or proposal to ensue that it is simply a sound thing to do. Putting it simply, have we done our homework?
For every question we face, or decision we make, there will inevitably be pro’s and con’s; reasons why we should or shouldn’t do something.
Be sure to consider the financial implications of any decision, and get some sound external advice if need be, if unsure. Especially if signing any (that’s ANY) documents that will bind us to any commitments.
Take a little time and consider, is the proposal practical; is it a good move for me, can I afford it?
Ultimately we are responsible for our own decisions; we can’t just blame someone else for something that didn’t work out.
Above all, don’t allow others to take control of our obligations, or make commitments for us. This would include anyone having the authority to sign anything on our behalf.
Perhaps one of the worst things a person can do is to act as a guarantor for someone else: effectively, legally taking the risk for their actions and performance. Just don’t do it!
Many people allow others to make decisions for them, abdicating their role of decision-making; and then complain that “things aren’t working out for them”.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions, remember Rudyard Kipling’s famous quote ‘I keep six honest serving men (they taught me all I knew) their names are What & Why & When, & How & Where & Who”.
When it comes to good ideas, be careful about doing things just because our friends or peers tell us to do it. Remember, we are the ones that are accountable, not someone else.
Spiritual
Most people have some religious, or spiritual background, and adhere or subscribe to some spiritual beliefs.
Whatever the religion is that we subscribe to; Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam or another there will most likely be a set of values that flow out of that.
These beliefs will almost always have value in helping us to make sound decisions. They will universally dictate that we care for others, that we expend some of our energy and resources caring for the poor and disadvantaged and so forth.
These additional values will add significant strength and credibility to any decision we take.
Gut Feeling
Gut feeling, sometimes referred to as ‘intuition’ is a valuable asset to own.
Whilst to many people this is far too subjective to be taken seriously, the facts remain that a person’s gut feel is a powerful asset that should never be taken lightly.
In fact, this element of decision-making has often made ordinary people enormously successful. They seem to possess this ‘sixth sense’ that warns them of risk, or encourages them to take a risk. Often in the face of available evidence, or the odds of success.
Learn to identify gut feel.
Like any muscle, it will grow and gain strength is we exercise it, so don’t be afraid to do just that.
Closely related to ‘gut feel’ is the ubiquitous ‘sniff test’ that successful people often harness. After having looked at the evidence, considered the facts and recommendations from others, having done their due diligence, they simply weigh it up and make a judgement call.
The Golden Rule
Finally, the Golden Rule: ‘do to others what we would like them to do to us’.
This is so old, and so simple that it should require little discussion.
Yet it is so often overlooked, or ignored in our fast paced society.
Does what we propose to do disadvantage others, or will it ultimately be a net benefit to others?
The answer to this question will often, of itself, determine if we take a particular course of action.
Summary
We have now looked at ten simple, sequential steps to making a sound, beneficial and generally good decision on any matter.
These steps are like a series of filters. If we expose the proposed decision to each of these steps or tests, and it passes through each one, then most likely it is a good thing to do.
If we find that any, or many of these filters cause us to stop and reconsider, then whatever the road block is, we should think very carefully before circumventing that roadblock and ignoring its influence.
Once established, and practiced, these steps can all be taken easily and quickly such that they become second nature.
And we will then, as a matter of course, make right decisions to our benefit and to those around us.
Author Neil Findlay
Connect with me on LinkedIn, I never IDK and never spam, ever
