|
12 Steps to a Decision
My head is spinning! John and I met with our contractor the other day to revisit the plans for our home remodel. We are gutting the kitchen and starting from scratch, redoing two bathrooms, and remodeling my home office. We also want new carpet, drapes, furniture, paint, etc throughout the house. There will be hundreds of decisions to make and as a good Libra, I have to look at all sides of an issue before I decide, and then I change my mind five minutes later. How will I ever make it through this remodel?
Decisions, decisions, decisions! I got to thinking about a process to make decision making easier, and then got stuck analyzing and sorting out the steps to take. So, I’ll take it one step at a time.
1. DECIDE. Decide that you have to decide. What is the decision to be made and when does it have to be made by? Be specific; write it down. Who is involved in the decision and why is it important to you?
2. BRAINSTORM. Write down all your options, no matter how simple they may be or how complicated. Combine this with Step 3.
3. RESEARCH. Gather all the information you need to make an informed decision. Surf the internet, seek input from others who have had to make a similar decision, ask family and friends (with caution), read books, etc.
4. PROS/CONS Write down all the plusses and minuses of each option. Questions to ask yourself include:
• Does this fit my value system?
• Is it within my budget (if that is a consideration)?
• What is the best possible outcome with this choice?
• What is the worst possible outcome with this choice?
• Who else will be affected by this decision?
• Is someone else influencing me in this area?
• What are the risks with each option?
• How feasible is this option, really?
• Can I change my mind or reverse this decision easily if the outcome is not desirable? OR Is this decision permanent?
5. ELIMINATE. You’ve completed your research and created your pro/con list, so now is the time to narrow your list of options to those that pass the “possible” test. These are the decisions that could work for you.
6. VISUALIZE. Take each “possible” and craft a picture in your mind of what the outcome could be.
7. REALITY CHECK. Which option and possible outcome are a FIT for you?
8. DECIDE. Make your decision a confident one.
9. ACT. Get started on it.
10. EVALUATE. Follow up and get a progress report. Are you happy with your decision? Is the outcome desirable? Can you easily change something if need be? Would you have changed anything? (for next time)
11. ACKNOWLEDGE. Pat yourself on the back for a decision well made.
12. BONUS STEP: If your decision was not well made and you want to start all over, go back to Step 1.
As you follow the steps above, beware of pitfalls in decision making that can cloud your head, dilute the process, and knock you off the balance beam:
• You over analyze the situation. Information is good, but too much can drive you to distraction, muddy the waters, and delay a decision.
• You listen to too many people and their opinions. It’s beneficial to ask for advice and opinions, but, after all, it is your decision. But, then again, their information can be very useful.
• You do not listen to your gut. Be honest, you know in your gut if something does not feel right. Trust your instincts.
• You are an approval seeker, so everyone must agree with your decision. If not, then you find yourself thinking you made a mistake and you change your mind. That is a fool-hardy approach to decision making.
• You close your mind to different possibilities and refuse to look beyond the obvious and/or your prejudices.
The next time you find yourself stumbling and/or stuck making a decision follow the twelve steps. Develop the skills you need to make a wise decision and then move forward with the action steps. Let me know you how you fare.
|
