Making the Right Decision
What makes us choose one thing over another?
Big businesses can take months, even years, deliberating over what solution to implement. Trial periods and testing procedures drag on as everyone involved is determined to make sure their choice, is the right choice. High street shoppers often follow a reverse pattern – the impulse purchase being a common regret for many consumers. These two examples exist at opposite ends of the spectrum, but illustrate the point that decision making is very much a grey art.
The classic head versus heart debate is often cited as the driving force behind our choices, but, in reality, it is only one component of our decision making process. Factors such as experience and/or expertise in a certain area, how much of the necessary information we have available, external pressures and influences, and even what mood a person is in, all have a big impact on the choices we make.
Most of these elements are outside of our control, but by looking at things in a different way, and focusing on just two characteristics of a decision, our choices can be improved.
- Type of decision: If a decision is big (what house to buy, whether to change job etc.), or small (what to eat, whether to buy a shirt etc.).
- Variety of options: Is it a straight choice between two things (going out/or staying in, any yes/no question), or more open-ended, with a seemingly limitless number of options (where to go on holiday, redecorating a room etc.).
Despite appearing counter-intuitive, the general rule is that the more complex, and life-changing a decision is, the less time should be spent thinking about it. Basically go with your gut. The reasoning behind this advice is that there are too many variables to rationally process, so such decisions have to be left to our instincts – evolved specifically to deal with situations where we have to act first, and think later.
Simple “this or that” choices on the other hand, should not be taken without thought. Instead, if we take a moment to consider them, it will help eliminate rash – and often highly influenced – decisions which can have lasting, and even damaging consequences. These points apply equally to all form of decision making: whether for yourself or your company; done openly or in private; or taken individually or in collaboration.
So, taking longer doesn’t necessarily mean we make better choices, but snap decisions are often just as bad. Knowing what method to use, and when, can be the difference between satisfaction, and disappointment.
Tags: analysis, business practice, decision making, decisions, instincts, Manor Quarry, satisfaction
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