Decision making tips to help you make great choices
These decision making tips will take you straight back to basics to help you see with clarity the real choice that you need to take. So let's start off with two decision making tips to get you off to a great start.
Establish the required outcome first. When I say that, I mean completely establish it. What is it that you really want?
I meet many people who say that they want something, but in reality that's not what they really want - it's something else.
I expect you know people who say they want money, or more money. I've met many who say the same. I've also met some with stacks of money. They have large houses, fast cars, aeroplanes, you name it they can buy it yet they're not happy.
So be clear about what your end goal is. If you're thinking of taking a new job, is it about the career progression, the challenge, the financial reward, the status of the position? Or is it allowing you to do more of what you really want to do?
Cut through the noise
You most likely have several different things going on and choices to make at once. You feel overwhelmed and confused - going round in circles without making any kind of progress. One of my most helpful decision making tips at this stage is to identify the most important choice that needs to be made - and make it.
Once that choice has been made then you can make the next most important choice. More often than not, once the first choice has been made it is quite likely that the others will just fall into place or you'll see them in a different light. The trick of course, is how to know which is the most important decision.
Once you've got these two fundamental decision making tips under your belt, you're ready to look at the choices you face in greater detail.
Who is this choice for?
Who will benefit from the outcome of your decision? You've already identified what you want, so keep that in mind. Make sure you choose a particular path based on your own desires - not based on what others say or think. Just because something is 'the done thing' doesn't mean that it is right for you or will benefit you. There will always be people who'll tell you what they think you should do (whether you asked for their opinion or not). That may be all well and good for them - but you're not them! Are you living your life or someone else's?
What are the consequences?
I'm amazed by how many people don't accept that they have free will. They say things like, "I had no choice," or, "She made me do it,".
Not so.
You are always free to decide what you like. However, you are never free from the consequences of your actions. Next time you have a choice to make, just think what will happen if you choose one thing over another. Think about it in the now and in the future. Are you prepared to accept the consequences, good or bad?
What about decision making tips for those who struggle to get started?
No decision without action
A decision is not made until you take action. You can think and talk about something as much as you like. But until you actually carry out the task or set the wheels in motion nothing is different. Commitment is required.
Not deciding is not an option. Why? Because it is really a decision to do nothing. There will be consequences for doing nothing and the choices you were facing won't magically be resolved.
I often hear people say that they don't have the self confidence to make a decision. Yet not choosing to take action is actually choosing to not take action.
You've most likely heard the expression 'time and tide stand still for no man'. If you have an opportunity and you don't decide, you'll 'miss the boat'.
So put these decision making tips into practice right now.
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