Decision Making Styles and Techniques

Everyone has to make decisions every day at every stage of life. We make thousands of decisions in our life. Some of these decisions are certainly not very important and doesn’t impact much on our life but some times we have to take very important decisions that will decide our prospects. A single decision possesses the power of making or breaking your present and future both. A right decision can bring you the great fortune while a bad one can take away whatever you may already have with you. No one wants to take a wrong decision in life but they do so because they do not know decision making styles and techniques. There are some decision making styles and techniques that can help you take right decision in life and avoid misfortune.

Ask Questions: This is a simple and effective method of making accurate decisions. All you have to do is pick a pen and a notebook and draw two columns and name them ‘yes’ and ‘no’. Now ask yourself two questions which are ‘what if you do it?’ and ‘what if you don’t do it?’ right down the answers in respective columns. You can mould the questions if you need to. For example if you need to decide between two actions the questions can be ‘what if I do this?’ or ‘what if I do that?’. Once you have exhausted all your imagination on paper. The answer is lying well before you whether you should do it or not.

Explore Experience: This is also an effective decision making technique which would hardly let you down ever. Once you are in a situation to make a decision just recall if you have ever come across similar situation earlier. If yes, use that experience to help you make your decision this time. If no, try to remind yourself of someone who has similar experience. Learning from others experience is the best way to make right decision for yourself. For example if you want to decide whether you should take up Law as your study or not, you need to know the prospects and complexities involved in this profession. For that matter you can talk to some reputed lawyers in your area to know what they suggest you. You must note one thing here – always seek advice from those who have succeeded in this trade, for if you go to those who have not done well in this business, chances are that their advice will be more influenced with their own situation than the actual fact in the industry. In any case you will certainly need to apply your own understanding to assess the information you receive and make a decision.

SWOT Analysis: This is also an important parameter in decision making process. A lot depend upon your own calibre, capacity and potential. Whatever others may advice you on any matter, they sure are not realistically aware of your capacity to cope with the odds, your strengths to struggle and your potential to bounce back when you hit the bottom. You are the only person who exactly knows your worth. So do a fair assessment of your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats and make a decision that best suites to your situations. For example you want to become a lawyer you need to take council of your interests, your dreams, your fears, your resources. The fairer the assessment goes the better the decision will be. You need to be honest with yourself. Without exception!

Collect Information: Most of the wrong decisions are taken because of lack of sufficient information and knowledge. If you want to make an important decision in your life but do not know how to collect as much information as you can about the central object. Internet can be the best source if it is a general topic. You may seek help of friends, teachers, family members, colleagues if it is a personal matter. If it is something related to business or profession and you are at impasse to decide between right and wrong. Just find out name and number of any famous personality of this trade in your locality and give him/her a call. Seek an appointment if needed and get your doubts clear. Most of the times people wouldn’t be reluctant to help you, in fact they will be happy that you sought their advice or help. In some cases you might have to pay a little cost for it. If you think you can, do it. Of course there may be some cases whey you will receive a big ‘NO’ on your face. Never worry! Don’t take ‘NO’ as a final answer. Go to other person.

These are some basic decision making styles and techniques which would cost you nothing but can pay a lot. There may be time when you would require implementing one, two, three or all of above techniques to come to a right decision. Just do it! It is a lot better to take some time in taking a right decision than taking a wrong one abruptly. But beware do not take too much time to do it.

Picture- RAWRZ!