Like almost everything else, decision making is a skill that we can improve with practice. The biggest problem is that with hindsight, we tend to judge our decisions by the outcome rather than the process we used [if there even was one!].
The first stage is to look at where we might be going wrong. In their book ‘Decisive’, Chip and Dan Heath find four common ‘villains’ in our decision making process – and offer solutions to each:
| VILLAIN | SOLUTION |
| NARROW FRAMING We haven’t fully understood the problem | WIDEN YOUR OPTIONS Expand your understanding and choices |
| CONFIRMATION BIAS Seeking information that confirms existing beliefs | TEST YOUR ASSUMPTIONS Find people who disagree with the suggested solution(s) |
| SHORT-TERM EMOTION “This solution takes away my pain NOW!” | GET SOME DISTANCE Don’t react immediately – think longer term |
| OVERCONFIDENCE We think we know more than we actually do | PREPARE TO BE WRONG Accept we can never anticipate every possible outcome |
When thinking about the choices we have to make, the first thing we need to ascertain is – how important is this decision? How much time and effort should I be investing? Shane Parrish at Farnam St offers this helpful matrix for helping us decide:
Having decided there is an important decision to be made, we can then use the following system:
- Accurately define the problem
- Identify and weigh criteria
- Consider the alternatives
However much we prepare, life will always throw the occasional curveball – but taking a more considered approach to our process will help us make more effective decisions.
“All decision making is a values-clarifying exercise.”
Tony Robbins
