Effective Ways To Improve Your Decision Making Skills

Making decisions is a fact of life. You’re making decisions before you even get out of bed in the morning, such as what time you need to get up, what to have for breakfast, when to leave for work, and even what to wear

Fortunately, many of these decisions don’t need much thought. For example, your getting up time is controlled by what time you need to be somewhere, how long it takes you to get there, and how long it takes you to get ready.

In effect, these decisions are made for you. However, there are plenty of much more serious decisions that can have life-changing consequences. For example, taking an opportunity to relocate will have an impact on your social circle, financial status, and potentially your happiness. You have to know you’re making the right decision and that’s why you need to know the best ways to improve your decision-making skills and get better at making decisions.

Know What You Want

The easiest way to get better at making decisions is to start thinking about what you really want. That means looking at the decision in front of you and asking yourself what you really want from this opportunity.

On a small scale, you can apply it to where to go for dinner. If you want to chat then you need a quieter place, if you want to dance then perhaps skip the dinner and head to a dance club, or if one of the group needs to be near home for the babysitter, then choose a place near their house.

On a larger scale, you can apply it to a job opportunity. For example, if you want to get into management you want to take the job that helps you climb the ranks. If you’re happy in your position but prefer a different climate then you simply need a transfer.

 

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

If you want to know how to make better decisions you need to stop worrying about the small stuff. You’ll find several celebrities and well-known business people eat the same breakfast and wear the same clothes to work every day. It’s not because they lack imagination but because they want to move the small inconsequential decisions from their life. This allows them to focus on the bigger decisions that really matter.

 

Decide in Advance

One of the best ways to improve your decision making is simply to decide in advance. It’s surprising how many decisions can be pre-empted. By deciding in advance you can take the time to weigh up the pros and cons of each action and not be swayed by peer pressure or some other influence. All you have to do is stick to the decision you’ve made. It can also save you a lot of regrets.

Consider Emotions

Emotions can make it hard to make the best decision possible. They will cloud your judgment and increase the likelihood of you making a poor choice. Of course, you can’t simply turn off your emotions and they are an integral part of your happiness. But, if you have just experienced a traumatic event you know your emotions will be raw and it is best not to make any important decisions at this stage.

 

Weigh Up Your Options

When you need to make a decision then you’ll discover one of the best principles of how to make better decisions is to take the time to weigh the options. This doesn’t mean creating pros and cons lists. In most cases, these are too detailed. But, it does mean looking at each possible outcome as an opportunity and then choosing the opportunity you like the most.

In effect, you’re looking for the best in every situation and choosing what is best for you.

 

Consider What Happens If You Don’t Make A Decision

Sometimes you can be under immense pressure to make a decision and you’re so busy focusing on which path to choose that you forget to take stock. Simply pause and consider what happens if you don’t make a decision straight away. In most cases nothing.

In other words, remove the pressure and you can focus much better on what the right decision is for you.

 

Go With Your Gut

In many cases, the best decision is the one that you instinctively think of before you start over-analyzing. Always note your instant decision and preference, if you’re struggling to survive then go with it, your gut feeling is likely to be right for you.