When making a decision about anything – whether it is an important and life-changing moment or something relatively simple – like should I buy CCs or Doritos – there are no hard and fast rules that everyone can equally apply.  After a bit of research, however, I’ve put together a bit of a checklist that you can refer to that, with any luck, will assist you to make decisions faster and with more confidence and clarity.  So let’s get straight into it …

1. Are You A Satisficer or a Maximiser?

The term “satisficing” came from the mind of economist Herbert Simon in 1956 which is an approach to making decisions that prioritizes and ‘adequate solution’ over an ‘optimal solution’.  Satisficers make their decisions based purely on criteria being met.  Fairly black and white.  However Maximizers want to make THE ‘optimal decision’.  So to distinguish clearer between the two – a satificer will be happy once they find the perfect house, car, jeans etc with the qualities that are agreeable.  Maximizers though finding the perfect house, car, jeans etc that appear to precisely meet their requirements, can’t make a decision until after they have analysed every single option to give them confidence in making the best possible choice for their particular situation.  Satisficers tend to be happier than maximizers as maximizers spend SO much more time and energy in reaching the decision and they are often left feeling anxious about whether they are in fact, making the best choice considering all options available.  A bit like anyone researching a particular health challenge online, more information doesn’t necessarily lead to peace of mind in making the best decision.

2. Is There A Deadline Involved?

We tend to operate more efficiently and effectively when we know that something is time sensitive.  Can your decision be applied to a timeline?  When we know that a task absolutely has to be done by a certain time, we are more likely to find ways to get it done.  Particularly if there is some kind of specific reward involved.  Perhaps that is something you could offer yourself – a reward for completing a task by a certain time.

3. Narrow Down Your Choices.

There can be many scenarios in our lives where, on the surface of things, it looks as though we have no options.  But you can shift your mindset in a micro-second on this one.  Always look for the options in every situation.  No matter how big or small.  Because there always are more than one way to get something done.  The trap, however, is to ensure you don’t get bogged down in coming up with too many options or choices as that can be paralysing and force procrastination.  Maybe find 3 or 4 different ways to tackle a particular decision and work them through.  You may just find the answer could be obvious.

4. Write Down All Options.

Now that you have completed the objective as above, write down the options.  Just the act of writing things down has immense power.  Sometimes just the simple act of putting pen to paper can bring an elevated sense of clarity to a situation that talking alone did not.  Once you do write down all of the options to a particular decision, it is more likely your creative juices will start flowing and again, the answer could become obvious.

5. Analysis Paralysis.

There is a succinct distinction between analysing a problem and over analysing it.  Sometimes we become over enthused by outlaying every conceivable option there is available and coming up with all kinds of scenarios and ‘what ifs’ that on closer inspection, we can quite literally overwhelm ourselves with too much information.  Just keep it simple.  Once you have discovered a solution to your problem, move on quickly.  The more we analyse and analyse and analyse, the less likely you are to make a decision at all

6. Ask Yourself “What’s The Worse Case Scenario”?

Asking yourself this question will once again get those creative juices flowing in creating different situations that could conceivably occur but guess what?  In most cases, they won’t.  Always have that in the back of your mind.  Generally, what we worry about and fear, doesn’t come about.  In a statistical sense, less than 5% of what we worry about actually comes about and usually in a much lesser form.  Once again, write down everything that you could conceive could go wrong with a situation – brainstorm every possible scenario.  When you see it all written down you’ll probably end up laughing at yourself for seeming so paranoid and end up writing off most of it anyway.

7. Go With Your Gut.

This really is my mantra.  Listen to your intuition.  In my experience, I have found that it is rarely wrong.  I’m a big proponent of “if in doubt, leave it out”.  This is a great Law of Attraction methodology – if it feels right, it’s right.  Simple as that.  Really listen to how you feel about a particular situation you are looking to make a decision about.  If you are really hesitating and scratching and sniffing about it, perhaps it isn’t the right thing to move forward with.  But if every fibre of your being tells you it’s right and it excites you – it’s probably the right move.

8. Remember The End Result.

Always keep your eyes on the prize.  Whatever decision you are faced with, remember what you are making the decision for.  There is always a bigger picture with every decision we are faced with.  Sometimes remembering there is a bigger picture can actually help us in making the decision faster and more effectively.  Go through the questions of “what, why, how, when, who”.  Sometimes this can be extremely helpful in gaining clarity and perspective allowing a free and calm mind to more adequately assess a situation, creating an ideal atmosphere to making a sound decision.

As I said earlier, this is by no means meant to be a definitive and tried and proven list.  But give it a go and see if it helps you in making your next important decision fast and with more certainty and clarity.  Leave me your comments on your experience with this or if you have some more to add, I would love to hear it and share.

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