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Decision Making and Overcoming Indecisiveness
"The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure." - Sven Goran Eriksson
We make thousands of decisions every day. What time to wake up, what to have for breakfast, which roads to drive to work or school, which daily tasks to prioritise… but when it comes to big life decisions, like career direction, we sometimes experience cold feet. Why do we procrastinate? Fear, lack of confidence and a poor track record of decision‐making may play parts.
Understanding just a few effective decision‐making techniques can put you well on your way to overcoming indecisiveness and improving your decision‐making abilities. The result is greater confidence in yourself…and more great decisions in your future.
Paralysed by Confusion
Decision paralysis is often the result of too much research, or attempting to become a topic expert too quickly. As well, gathering information which is too broad in scope can lead to confusion, leaving you unsure how to best analyse your new knowledge.
Every decision‐making process should begin with clear goals and objectives. Start by listing what you want to achieve, before you begin the information gathering process.
Since time is of the essence for each of us, consider the resources at your disposal: perhaps your local library, an Internet search or trade resources will reveal the information you seek to make an informed decision. The key is to use questions in a specific way, to find what you need without wasting time wading through confusing or irrelevant information.
Decision Making Models
Decision‐making is not the same as problem solving, although making good decisions involves identifying the problem. Decision‐making is generally a rational, logical process which generates results after choosing one or more options or actions. Of course, some people use an intuitive approach to decision‐making. If you often say, "It just felt right", you may be one of those people. The rational model of decision making looks at the pros and cons of an issue to select the most sensible choice for achieving the desired results. If you've ever compared both sides of an issue before making a decision, you've used this rational model.
In the corporate world, the Vroom‐Jago decision model helps executives determine the extent of subordinate involvement in the decision‐making process. Other models exist, such as the seven step model.
The intuitive decision‐making model supposes that logic is less vital in the decision‐making process. Studies show that an intuitive process is used in as much as 90% of all decision making. If you've made a new decision based on a previous decision which had an acceptable outcome, you've used the process of intuitive decision‐making. "Let's eat at Joe's Pizza tonight. We had such a good meal there last time." Your past experiences and what you've learned from those experiences will have a strong influence on your decision. Rather than contrasting and comparing options, as with the rational model, the brain cycles through the most appropriate choices to find the best fit.
The ultimate model of decision‐making requires the ability to speedily assimilate past experiences, to swiftly make a decision, and believe it is the right decision. For most people, this is a skill learned over time.
See Yourself in a Positive Light
Spend some time thinking about self‐beliefs. Do you see yourself as indecisive? Are you aware of procrastinating? Telling yourself, "Oh, I'm just not good at making important decisions" becomes your reality.
To rid yourself of indecisiveness, you must form a new self image. Begin by using affirmations to build your self‐confidence. When decisions must be made, don't berate yourself; rather, tell yourself, "I can do this. I make good decisions. I can trust myself on this issue." Picture yourself making quick decisions confidently in a variety of situations. Practice these visualisations and affirmations daily. Remember that "If you think you can, then you can. If you think you can't, then you can't".
Banish Fear
Indecision often stems from a fear of making the wrong decision, looking foolish or experiencing ridicule. Doing nothing is certainly safer than making the wrong decision. Or is it? It is not reasonable to believe youll never find yourself needing to make a decision. Unfortunately, one cannot opt out of the decision‐making process. Making a wrong decision is proactive; you will learn from your mistake, and feel empowered to make better future decisions.
Taking charge of your life can be intoxicating. You only learn and get better at something by actually doing it. The more decisions you make, the more confident you will feel, and the more skillful your decision making will become.
© inemmo Limited 2010 Joy Maitland MIBC FCMI FinstLM is a director of inemmo Business Coaching and Consulting
www.inemmobusinessconsulting.com www.inemmo.com