Decision-Making Process that will Move You Forward

What is the definition of Decision Making Process?

The simple definition of the decision-making process is the act of choosing between two or more courses of action. 

Each of us faces a decision making process on a daily basis.

Part of making a decision happen very intuitive and we do not think about it too much but part of making decision especially important decision to us could take us much more time and require thinking in advance.

It is possible to distinguish between making decisions according to their size and meaning for us.

There are many studies that explain decision-making and a good number of books have been written on this subject.

One of the most successful ones that I have read an amazing book and one of Dan Arieli‘s best sellers: “The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions.”

In this article, I would like to refer less to the decision-making process that is explained by research but rather to relate to the topic at the lower level, daily diary, and what the right methods are to make it simple for us.

We make decisions all the time.

A person receives tens to hundreds of decisions a day.

Let’s imagine the most simple example of making a decision that we get on a daily level.

• Just imagine shopping in a neighborhood supermarket. You are in front of a shelf and do not sure what type of cornflakes you should buy. Less healthy but very tasty for you or the more healthy one. You stand in front of the shelf and do not know what to purchase …

This is a very classic and simplified example of the decision making process.

Let’s see more examples of the decision making process:

• Choosing  a class for your kid
• Making a decision about what to wear in the morning, for some of us it is not so easy 😉
• The decision of buying a home, the decision of home price, or what neighborhood to choose

All those examples of the decision-making process

On the other hand, we have decisions that are much more meaningful to us.

Sometimes those decisions have a direct impact on our environment, the people we love, our family.

Let’s see some examples of meaningful decisions that we make in our life :

• Thinking about a new workplace
• Buying a house in a certain area and at a certain cost
• Pick out kids schools 

This kind of decision affects us both on a daily and long-term basis.

If I decide between cornflakes and decide to buy less healthy but tastier has a short-term effect on my life, which comes down to a slight weight increase.

Although let’s see the case of a non-challenging workplace, a staff that works with you not social enough and unpleasant to work with.

It could affect your life twice:

• For the first time – In the long term you will be disgruntled and not satisfied with the professional and social atmosphere.
• For the second time -You will probably bring it home and pour your remorse on family members.

So… How to Make the Best Decision for You? 

 

From my experience, the process of making decisions could change in different periods of life.

What do I mean?

Imagine you decided to study at a specific university in a certain department.

As part of the decision-making process was a factor of the prestige of the same university and especially the group you decided to study.

The person who teaches in this department won the Nobel Prize or participated in some international research that certainly adds prestige to that circle.

You went to study there and you spent a few years studying there, but when you look there is a possibility that you would choose another.

Cause the student’s lives were very sparse, boring, and not varied at this university compared to the stories of your friends who studied at other universities.

It is important to note that the decision-making process requires not only analysis but also mental power.

Making decisions always involves taking risks – no safe decisions.

In the professional aspect, for example, one of the parameters that distinguish a junior employee, and the manager is the ability to make decisions.

During my career, I met quite a few brilliant employees in their fields. Employees were able to progress on their career steps, but at the moment of truth, they did not know how to make decisions that affect other people.

The easiest decision-making method I have used for many years is to create a Weighted Decision Matrix.

The Weighted Decision Matrix can help you in case you couldn’t make a big decision.

Here is a good example of it :

You have a few job proposals that you are very deliberative about.  Create a weighted decision matrix and write down some parameters that are very important to you in choosing a place of work. 

See some parameters that could be important for you :

• Distance from Home
• The Professional Challenge
• Promotion Ability

Summarize the total score, and you will receive a “representative” number for you.

Here is a simple decision matrix that gives you an order of options for making decisions and defining parameters that are important to you.

With those design matrix possible to calculate the right decision for you. 

Here is an example of the weighted decision matrix :

Lots of success in your decision-making process, work according to methods that already work.

 As a result, each process will be much easier for you.

Is this post helpful for you? Share your thoughts in comments on how it helped you. 

Join to Productive Hut Family and be part of a testing community!