Decide Faster and Decide Smarter
Principles that can help make faster and better decisions
I. Define the decision
What do you want to decide? To make a decision, you must first identify the challenge you need to overcome or the question you need to answer. Clearly define your decision.
II. Give it some time
Once you have identified your decision, it’s time to reflect. Analyze, an assessment, and see where your organization has succeeded and failed in areas related to your decision. Also, seek information from external sources, including studies, market research, and, in some cases, evaluation from paid consultants.
Keep in mind, that you can become bogged down by too much information and that might only complicate the process.
III. Limit your options
The more choices you have, the harder the decision-making process can be. Limiting your choices can help you consider just a few options at a time so you make a more informed decision. Limiting your choices also might help you learn how to think critically when considering the remaining options.
IV. The gut feeling
Our gut instincts are not always as random as they seem. They can be based on a rapid appraisal of the situation. We might not always realize it, but the brain is constantly comparing our current situation with our memories of previous situations. So when a decision feels intuitive, it might be based on years of experience.
Keep in mind that if you have to decide on an area in which you do not know, trusting your gut feeling is likely to give you the wrong answer.
V. Ask for perspective
This is where your network comes to the rescue. Identify the best person to approach as per your case and schedule a healthy discussion around your choices. A different perspective can work wonders.
VI. Decision strengthens decisiveness
When you feel good about any single decision you make, your body and mind feel more energized and empowered to make another. That one positive, little effort begins a chain reaction of other good decisions.
VII. Accept uncertainty
Uncertainty only becomes certain in the outcome of our decisions. It’s beyond reasonable to assume that it will always be present in our lives. Furthermore. it will influence the decisions we make from now until the end of time. Ignoring uncertainty only leads to poor decisions. Consider how often you choose because of the outcome you want, rather than how likely it is to happen. Don’t run from uncertainty.
VIII. Time is money
“The trouble is, you think you have time”
Stop wasting time procrastinating on your decisions, and instead, start making them today. Some people waste a good portion of their lives in indecision. Time-bound your decisions and act on them.
IX. Stay calm
As per studies, people usually tend to make risky and abnormal decisions under chronic stress. While anxiety plays an important evolutionary role in keeping us safe from mistakes and harm, too much anxiety interferes with performance and decision-making. Rather than trying to suppress emotions, which are not only ineffective but may harm us, we must work to calm the body and brain. Only then can we effectively examine the pros and cons and make a better decision.
X. It’s time to act
Decision-making — combined with action — allows us to discover certainty. It turns uncertainty into certainty. Life doesn’t stand still and neither should our decisions.
When is the best time to act on your decision? Now.
