4 Ways To Make Great Decisions

Since this is the final semester of my senior year (let’s not even think about that though because it’s far too depressing) I am taking my capstone course. The topic of my capstone is decision making and we are focusing on how both good and bad decisions are made. Since starting this class I am even more in tune with how I handle decisions and evaluate how I go about reaching a conclusion. Believe it or not, there are a lot of ways we can sabotage ourselves without realizing it.

Recently my mother advised me that “In life there are many decisions to be made, and some you will regret. There will be nights where you will be wishing you didn’t wear the shoes that look great, but you should wear them anyway.” While I appreciate the intent behind this statement (do what you’ve got to do), this is not a surefire way to make good decisions. That’s why today I want to share with you methods to help you make better choices and achieve great results.

The information here is mostly derived from the book we are using in my course, lead by Professor Leventry, called Decisive by Chip and Dan Heath.

01. Consider more than what meets the eye

When you are first are faced with a decision it can be very easy to think of it in terms of either/or. I will either join this club or I won’t. I will either go on a date with him or not. By looking at it in this way, however, you don’t allow yourself to see the breadth of options that you may actually have. Perhaps you can join the club and only be involved with a certain committee. Or maybe instead of going on a date with the guy you can make it a group hangout to get to know each other better in a less pressured situation. The key is to look at any and all options and to be creative.

02. Avoid seeking information that just confirms what you want to believe

If you haven’t heard of confirmation bias before, get ready to be hyperaware of it (which is really great because it will help you avoid the trap it lays). Confirmation bias is when you only look at and pay attention to the information that serves your purpose. From seeking out opinions you know will align with yours, to finding reasons to make a certain decision, it can be detrimental to engage in confirmation bias. Instead, look for evidence that contradicts what you believe and see if it is valid. If your decision holds true, then you can proceed, and if not it is time to consider some more options.

03. Don’t let short term emotion have a long term effect

04. Be sure of yourself (but not too sure)