Decision making is the study of identifying and choosing alternatives based on your values/preferences as a decision maker. Making a decision implies that alternative options must be considered, including the one that best suits your goals, desires, lifestyle, and values.
Doing SOMETHING, and then moving to perform that action, can propel you in the direction of your desired goal. When faced with a complex decision, it is important to be mindful of using an approach that accommodates the complexity of the decision.
Examples of complex decisions include: How would I best organize my investments to finance the purchase of land? Should you take a vacation, for how long and where? To solve these complex decisions, use these 7 Steps to SUCCESS with a Complex Decision:
Step 1: List each optional decision; include the pros and cons of each.
Step 2: Examine the list carefully: analyze it, what does it suggest? – Is the decision obvious? If so, select the obvious.
Step 3: Which list, the pros or the cons, is stronger. Because?
Stage 4: Proceed to act on the strongest list.
Step #5: How do you feel? Are you happy with this selection?
Step #6: If so, proceed with the strongest. If not, reconsider which list is stronger.
Step #7: Proceed to act on the strongest list.
Decisions are not made in isolation from each other: collect information, explore alternatives, and make a resulting decision…in a context of other decisions. Every decision you make affects the decision flow, that is, decisions are made in a context of other decisions.
There is a stream of decisions surrounding a given decision. Many decisions that were made before have led to the current decision; they have made it possible, they have added limitations to it. Furthermore, many other decisions will follow this decision creating far-reaching consequences.
I encourage you to use these steps over and over again to help you through the process of making complex decisions.