It is 6PM and I am still sitting in my office reflecting on today. Today I had to make some difficult decisions that relate to a sports team that I coach and I found that harder than making decisions for a multi million dollar business. I guess life can be weird like that… So I figured what the hell I will blog about it.
There’s no denying that some decisions are easier than others, and some people have more trouble making decisions than others. If you have to make a choice and you’re stuck, here’s a process I like to use:
- Define the situation in concrete terms: As if you are telling a story, write out the particulars. What do you have to make a decision about, and what led up to this point? Who are the people involved? What is the deadline for making the decision?
- Generate as many alternatives as you can: Write down everything that comes to mind, and then look at your list carefully. Are any of your options totally unrealistic? If so, cross these off.
- Evaluate each choice: List the positive and negative consequences – or pros and cons – associated with each option. When considering pros and cons, think about your most important personal values (i.e. how will you feel about yourself if you take a certain action?), and how the decision will affect your life and the people in it.
- Select and implement the best alternative: Create an action plan in which you marshal the appropriate resources and set a timeline in motion. Communicate your decision clearly to the people involved.
- Assess the outcome: If your decision turns out to be the right one, think about what worked and why. If you were wrong, don’t be too hard on yourself. Just chalk it up to a learning experience and try a different approach next time.
