Some tools to facilitate your decision making

What is decision making?

In a nutshell, decision making is a complex cognitive process that consists of examining and comparing options in order to choose an action, form an opinion or make a choice. This definition is quite broad, which is why we mentioned at the outset that decision making is found everywhere in our lives. That said, it is a process. It is therefore important to always keep in mind to adapt yourself according to the decision to be made or the impact it will have on your life. For example, the decision-making process will not be the same if you are planning your week of vacation, if you want to change your career path or if you are negotiating the purchase of a house.

Making a decision is necessary when you want to make a selection between several options, share an opinion or advice with someone, when you need to choose the resources to invest in the optimal place for your business plan, or when you need to achieve the goal you have set for yourself.

Decision-making: two factors limiting your effectiveness

Making a decision is sometimes not an easy task and a few internal or external factors can influence the way we perceive a dilemma. First of all, the urgency of a situation requiring us to make a decision quickly can play a fundamental role in the quality of our thinking and this can even tend to take us away from the reality of a situation or context. We start to juggle some personal thoughts, we mix our judgments or we start to listen only to our personal values and this, unfortunately, can lead us to turn away from the real meaning of the initial need. In addition, stress can have a great impact on decision making. Indeed, sometimes the pressure we put on ourselves literally blocks our cognitive ability to weigh the pros and cons of a situation and, ultimately, to make an informed decision.

The pitfalls of decision making

Several factors (often external) can make decision-making more complex for an individual. First, we are in an era where speed is king in our human relationships, in the way we communicate and in the way we should "in theory" manage and transmit the information we receive. Lack of information can also play an important role in decision making since we do not always have all the cards in hand to make a quick and informed choice. Lack of experience in a given situation can make it difficult for you to have the necessary hindsight or the right assets to make that decision. Finally, the lack of an alternative may lead you to make a choice... you have to.

There are many factors that influence your decision making, often without you realizing it! Your intuition will often tend to guide you in a particular direction, while your personal values may keep you anchored in a way that could be detrimental to your decision-making process. Also, a desire for performance at all costs may lead you to make short-term choices when the issue deserves a much longer time horizon. Finally, lack of time can be an important factor in making a decision.

Making a good decision is not always easy! Making the "right decision" can depend on the context, the people involved, the budget allocated to the project, the level of authority related to the choice and the impact it will have on your environment. Above all, choosing one direction or another when it comes to making a decision will often be influenced by your personality.

Some ideas for making a good decision

Involve your colleagues

In recent years, studies have shown the beneficial impact of decentralizing decisions and of what we can call collective intelligence. Indeed, entrusting certain decisions exclusively to key hierarchical positions within the company is not always the best idea. Don't hesitate to involve your colleagues in the decision-making process: this will tend to motivate them. It is always rewarding to feel part of some strategic thinking. Sometimes you don't have all the keys in hand to make the right choices, but perhaps one of your colleagues can help you achieve the desired objective with their experience and network of contacts. Talking about it becomes a useful and often essential way to quickly resolve the impasse you are facing.

Align your values with those of the company

Sometimes, we tend to let our personal values take an important place in our decision making and this is normal. However, don't hesitate to ask yourself if your values are aligned with those of the organization in order to make an informed choice that can be in line with that long-term vision.

Focus on the facts

When faced with a dilemma where several players are involved and it becomes difficult to see clearly, do not hesitate to come back to the basics and keep your eyes fixed on the facts. You will see that when emotions take over our thinking, it is difficult for anyone to make an informed choice.

Take the time

Taking the time will save you time! Sometimes it's best to give yourself a few extra hours or days to think about what's best for you, your colleagues and your business. You should come out ahead!

To conclude...

Making a decision is a frequent, sometimes mandatory and often essential process in order to choose between your options, to give an opinion or to formulate advice in your professional environment or in your personal life. Don't hesitate to keep these few points in mind the next time you make a decision and never forget that the best choice is the one that is made according to a clear, structured process and far from your emotions. Above all, take the time to do it right!

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