Making decisions is risky business. Because of the risk and sense of uncertainty, most people lean toward making decisions that are ‘acceptable” rather then decisions that serve their best interest.
Very few people have any training in decision making. That can be real problem when you realize how often you make decisions that affect you and those you count on.
Here are five great questions that will put you on the path toward more thoughtful and rewarding decisions. It is important that you write your answers to each question. The questions are designed to make you think through the situation and your higher needs/goals.
Practice these for a few weeks, and, before you know it, they will be standards you will have integrated.
The five questions:
- Why do you need to make a decision?
- What if you decided to not make a decision (live with the current situation)?
- How do you define the problem the decision would address?
- What compromises will be necessary if you implement the decision?
- When your decision is implemented, what will you have accomplished?
Action idea:
Take two situations you are facing that require a decision. On one, make the decision in your usual way. Note the level of satisfaction with your decision. On the second, use the five questions. See if you notice any improvement in your satisfaction and level of self trust.
I hope you will use this.
Richard L Reardon
800 560 0880
Richard,
I really enjoy the last two questions. It is a good check for me for last three major decisions that I have made. In thinking of these two questions, I gain more clarity of my decision making. Before I answer these, I see only one side, now I see both my compromises and what I can accomplish.
Thanks, – Jiahong