What is decision-making? To put it in its simplest form decision-making is the act of choosing between two or more courses of action. People often say that they find it hard to make decisions.
Making a decision is what we humans do every day, ranging from small trivial matters like what to wear each morning, right up to life-changing decisions like where and what to study, and who to marry.
A lot of people postpone making decisions by endlessly searching for more information or getting other people to offer their recommendations. Others resort to decision-making by taking a vote, sticking a pin in a list, or tossing a coin. But at the end of the day, you have to be the one that makes the decision yourself.
Today in this article, I am going to tell you what is preventing you from effective decision-making.
1. Not Enough Information
If you do not have enough information, it can feel like you are making a decision without any basis. Take some time to gather the necessary data to inform your decision, even if the timescale is very tight. If necessary, prioritize your information-gathering by identifying which information will be most important to you.
2. Too Much Information
The opposite problem, but one that is seen surprisingly often: having so much conflicting information that it is impossible to see ‘the wood for the trees'. This is sometimes called analysis paralysis and is also used as a tactic to delay organizational decisionmaking, with those involved demanding ever more information before they can decide.
This problem can often be resolved by getting everyone together to decide what information is really important and why, and by setting a clear timescale for decision-making, including an information-gathering stage.
3. Too Many People
Making decisions by committee is difficult. Everyone has their own views and their own values. And while it’s important to know what these views are, and why and how they are important, it may be essential for one person to take responsibility for making a decision. Sometimes, any decision is better than none.
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