Last time I highlighted the importance of making good decisions and how difficult this can be for those of us who no longer have a husband or partner to act as a sounding board. I promised you some guidelines on making good decisions and here they are.
1. Let your emotions subside before making an important decision. At the very least sleep on the matter you make the decision
2. Be clear about the situation and decision you are trying to make.What is your ultimate objective? What problem are you trying to solve? Why should it be solved? How will you know when you have solved it? Is there a timescale? Write down your answer as a clear statement. For example, I am trying to decide whether to change careers as I am becoming bored at work.
3. Get others on board. Sometimes an outside or objective viewpoint can offer you a different way of looking at things. Share your thinking with people you trust like friends and family members, work colleagues etc.They will inevitable come up with with things you haven't thought of which can make your decision easier to make.
4. Brainstorm possible choices. Generate ideas and possible solutions and make a list Ask for help if you need it
5. Beware of choice overload. Limit the number of options to a maximum of three by prioritising your list.
6. Make your decision. Reflect on what you have learned and trust your own judgment.You will know and feel which one is best(Tools to help you are on the way!)
7. Do your research.. What factors does your decision involve? Use the Internet, library,friends,family,colleagues,neighbors,spiritual leaders to get as much background information as possible.,Keep all the information relating to your decision in one place.
8. Identify your resources. What do you need to act on your decision? Include money,people,knowledge,skills,information
9. Put your decision into action. Transform your decision into a plan of specific action steps.What could get in the way of implementing your decision? What action could you take to prevent this happening?
10. Take action to implement your decision. This is the most important step. Its no good making a decision of you do not act on it!
'Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there'. Will Rogers
Comments