3 Methods to Improve Your Decision-Making Ability
From ‘What do I want for lunch?’ to ‘Do I change my job?’ — everything demands you to make decisions. It is a personality trait that has to be nurtured since childhood. If you have grown up in an unfavorable condition or you were never given the space to form your own opinion — it may hamper your decision making ability. It is nothing other than choosing between two or, in some cases, more than two options.
But, even this simple task of choosing may become difficult. Making impulsive decisions, on the other hand, is never justified. For a brief period, it might seem all right. But eventually, you will end up regretting your choice. So, here are three ways to improve your decision-making ability.
1. Weigh the pros and cons
An impulsive decision is not an option. So how do you decide your answer? You write down the pros and the cons. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. So it would help if you weighed all the scenarios before finally going ahead with one. Suppose you are considering quitting your 9–5 and beginning your own business. The factors you need to remember here are:
How will you support yourself?
Do you have enough savings to fall back on?
What is your vision?
How confident are you in your idea?
Do you have the necessary connections and resources to set up your business?
When the answers align, you finally take the leap of faith. You can also utilize the SWOT analysis. Reflect on your decision’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This may be an unpopular opinion wherever you are deciding in your life — regarding marriage, starting a family, or filing for a divorce. However, it does help you assess the subsequent actions that will unfold. There is no point in crying over spilled milk, so think before you act.
2. Discuss with someone
Sometimes, it so happens that you cannot gather all the information on your own. In that case, talking to someone with experience in the area is always the best option. Somebody can help you clear your mind and provide an unbiased opinion. We often have several questions regarding something before we opt for it. Ask for help. Clear your doubts. Gather sound information and relevant perspectives. Don’t limit yourself to a single perspective. Encourage diverse opinions; only then will you get the entire picture.
It is not advisable to presume anything or to go with the flow. Meticulous planning and research, and constructive discussions can help you come to a standpoint and improve your decision-making ability.
3. Believe your instincts
Why must we make a decision? Because not making it means everything remains the same. Because we want to take our life on a new course, we want to do something new and break away from the old. And the one person who can help you the most in such a situation is you. Your decision-making ability highly depends on how much self-confidence you have.
If you realize you are overthinking a situation and cannot conclude, it is best to trust your gut feeling. I believe that we always, in our subconscious, are aware of what to do next. But, in most cases, that is something out of our comfort zone, so we hesitate. So, always trust your inner voice, and you will know what to do.
One of the innate features of a good leader is their quick and precise decision-making ability. Start with something small. Like cooking something experimental, deciding what to order for lunch, or planning a vacation. These will give you the necessary boost in your spirit. Or try setting a time limit. That way, no matter what, you have to come to a conclusion by this time.
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