Decision making can be described as the process of making choices through the identification of a decision, gathering the information required for the decision and assessing any alternative resolutions (Brand, 2009). Decisions can either be made through a reasoned or an intuitive process or a combination of the two methods. The decision-making act encompasses the choice between two possible solutions to a problem (Brand, 2009). Intuition is a combination of both personal values and past experiences which are influenced by emotions, biases, and memories. Intuition, therefore, can be best described as that unconscious reasoning that drives us into doing something without telling us why or how (Brand, 2009). Reasoning on the hand is using the facts and figures that available and at our disposal to make decisions. Complicated decisions most at times require a more structured and formal approach that involves both reasoning and intuition (Brand, 2009). It is important to apply both intuition and reason in turn. In the making of a decision, it is best for one start with reason which involves the gathering of the relevant facts and figures and once a specific decision has been arrived at, then turn into intuition.
One of the most life-changing decisions that I had to make was whether to have a baby or not. To some women, having children and teaching them how to live and navigate in our messy world is the most important thing to do while to others the commitment to child-bearing and family is enough to make them break. As a teenager, I always thought that I would grow up, get married and have kids. It was not until when I had started my career that it seemed so much to give up my whole life for my children. Before I finally made the decision of having my first child, I thought long and hard about the how I wanted the long-term vision or the big picture of my life to look like. After careful consideration, it dawned on me that the idea of having a family looked appealing to me and I was only scared of the toddler years, but the thought of having older children sounded splendid.
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Factors to consider before you make any decision
Explore all available options – Many at times we are always limited in perspective of what could be. In the decision-making process, it is important always to consider all the possible available options might be (Myatt, 2012). It is vital at times to include some of the unreasonable options you may have in the decision-making process because they could trigger you to think of new solutions. By comparing both the good and the bad of all the options, you are inclined to find the most reasonable few which will then lead to the selection of a specific decision.
Relationships – Every decision that we make has the power to influence other people’s lives positively or negatively (Myatt, 2012). Many at times, the decisions we make always affect the people who are closest to us. It is important to think how the decision you make would affect the people around you.
Alignment – Any decision that you make should be aligned with your values, priorities, and passions (Myatt, 2012). This is important because it’s going to make you feel like you have made the right choice but before making that decision, you need first to know what those priorities, values, and passions are.
Counsel – Once you are clear about the decision you would want to make and how it would affect other people, it is time to involve them in the process so that the feedback could be used in forging a way forward (Myatt, 2012). Other people that can be involved in the process are trusted family and friends as well as respected mentors.
Risk and Rewards – This is the time to think about the risks that are associated with the options that you have made (Myatt, 2012). This includes a clear analysis of what is the safest decision as well as the safest. This step also involves the steps that one can take so as to minimize the risks as well as the expected rewards of each option.
Take a step forward – At this point, the choice or decision has already been made. You don’t know what the future holds, and definitely, you cannot control the future, but the best available option is to move forward with the decision (Myatt, 2012).
The Steps to Effective Decision-Making
Identify the decision – In this step, you realize that there a need to make a decision. This step involves Clearly defining the decision that you are to make (McLaughlin, 2017).
Gather information – This step involves the collection of all relevant information that is needed before the decision is made. This also involves the analyzing what information is a need and the relevant sources of information and how to get them (McLaughlin, 2017).
Identify the alternatives – As you gather the relevant information with regard to the decision, there is a need also to identify several possible alternatives (McLaughlin, 2017).
Evaluate the evidence – Based on reason and intuition evaluate the need of carrying out each of the alternatives and place them in order of priority (McLaughlin, 2017).
Choose among the alternatives – Once all the evidence has been evaluated, you are to select an alternative that appears to be the best one for you (McLaughlin, 2017).
Take actions – In this step, you are ready to take action and begin the implementation of the best alternative chosen (McLaughlin, 2017).
Review the decision – This is the final step in which you need to evaluate the results of the decision that you made and whether or not the decision has met the needs that you identified (McLaughlin, 2017).
Conclusion
Every decision that we make have the ability to impact our lives and those of the ones closest to us either positively or negatively. Therefore, it is important to clearly follow the guidelines provided by experts together with reason and intuition so as to achieve the maximum benefits of the decision.
References
Brand M., & Markowitsch H. J. (2009) Aging and Decision-Making: A Neurocognitive Perspective. General Psychology (56)319–324.
McLaughlin, D. (2017). Healthcare Operations Management . Chicago: Health Administration Press.
Myatt, M. (2012, March 28). 6 Tips for Making Better Decisions . Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemyatt/2012/03/28/6-tips-for-making-better-decisions/#1ccd582534dc .
