Written by: Dimitris Papadimitriou

The Decision-Making process: Making better decisions to achieve success in the workplace

Making decisions is an inevitable part of life. From deciding what to have for breakfast to choosing a career path, we constantly take part in the decision-making process and make choices that shape our future.

However, the decision-making process can often be challenging and overwhelming. It's easy to get stuck in indecision or make impulsive choices. That's why understanding the decision-making process and how to effectively utilize this knowledge is essential for making informed and successful decisions.

Read further as we explore the decision-making process, including the different steps of decisions and the factors that influence them and as we present 3 tools that can help you make better decisions.

Better decision-making leads to confidence, clarity and ultimately success in the workplace.

Decision-making models: The 7 steps to make a decision

To reach a position of making better decisions we must first understand the decision-making process.

Over the years countless researchers and scientists from the fields of psychology, neuroscience, economics, business and many more have studied the decision-making process and from this research many decision-making models have been derived.

To provide some examples of models, we have the rational decision-making model, the behavioral decision theory, the intuitive decision making, the incremental decision making, the garbage can model and the list goes on…

For now we present you with some decision making steps that are widely accepted by the scientific community and can be found in many of the abovementioned decision-making models.

Discover the 7 steps of the decision-making process

1. Identify the problem or goal

This stage involves recognizing the need for a decision and defining the problem or goal that needs to be addressed. Without a clear understanding of the problem or goal, it's difficult to make an informed decision.

2. Gather information

In this stage, you gather as much relevant information as possible about the decision to be made. This can involve conducting research, consulting experts, or gathering data.

3. Generate options

Based on the information gathered, you generate a list of possible options or solutions to the problem.

4. Evaluate alternatives

This stage involves weighing the pros and cons of each option and evaluating them based on their potential outcomes, risks, and feasibility.

5. Make a choice

The time has come! Once you've evaluated the alternatives, you make a decision based on the information and analysis you've conducted.

6. Take action

After making a decision, you need to take action to implement the chosen solution. This can involve planning, delegating tasks, and communicating the decision to others who may be impacted.

7. Evaluate the results

Finally, it's important to evaluate the results of the decision and assess its effectiveness. This can involve gathering feedback, measuring outcomes, and making adjustments as necessary.

This process can be applied to a variety of decision types, from everyday decisions like what to wear or what to eat (those are called low-involvement decisions), to more complex decisions like choosing a career or buying a home (high-involvement decisions).

Important factors influencing the decision-making process

When faced with a decision, we carefully analyze our options and choose the one that makes the most sense. Or do we?

Science has just lately started to untangle how humans really make decisions and the process is influenced by many important factors.

Emotions

One important factor to consider when making decisions is the role that emotions play in the process. It's common to make decisions based on our emotions rather than logical reasoning, which can lead to poor choices.

For example, we might choose a particular brand of clothes because we associate it with positive emotions or memories, rather than objectively evaluating the quality and price. This is what we call emotional decision making. 

To combat these emotional decisions, it's important to be aware of your emotions and to take a step back when making decisions to ensure that you're making choices based on reason rather than just feelings. In any case emotional decision-making should not be severely criticized since it is a great way to make decisions when you lack in time or resources.

Emotional decisions are based on our instincts and take place most of the time as defense mechanisms.

External factors

Another important consideration is the influence of external factors on decision making. These can include social pressure, cultural norms, and cognitive biases.

For example, we might feel pressure to conform to the opinions of our friends or colleagues, even if those opinions don't align with our own values or goals. Similarly, we might be influenced by cognitive biases like confirmation bias, which causes us to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs, rather than considering other perspectives.

To make better decisions, it's important to be aware of these factors and to actively work to overcome them. This can involve seeking out diverse perspectives, gathering as much information as possible, and using decision-making tools.

Decision-making tools: Practice 3 tools to make better decisions

The Decision Trees

One tool that assists in decision-making is the decision tree, which can help you visualize the different possible outcomes of a decision and the associated probabilities. This can be especially helpful when making complex decisions with multiple variables and uncertainties.

The SWOT analysis

Another useful tool is the well-known SWOT analysis, which stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This involves identifying these factors in relation to a particular decision and using them to evaluate the pros and cons of different options.

The Eisenhower Matrix

This is a decision-making tool for prioritizing tasks based on their urgency and importance. It can help you make more efficient and effective decisions about how to allocate your time and resources.

By utilizing these tools and strategies, you can approach decision making with greater clarity and make choices that align with your values and goals. That’s why we have prepared these 3 decision-making tools in one download for you to practice and reflect on your decision-making process.

Practice makes…better decisions

For professionals in any field, decision-making is a critical skill that can mean the difference between success and failure.

Whether you're a CEO making strategic decisions for your company, a manager making decisions about an individual’s career, or an educator making decisions about curriculum, the ability to make informed and effective choices is essential.

By understanding the decision-making process and utilizing tools and strategies to make better decisions, you can approach your work with greater confidence. This can lead to better outcomes for yourself, your organization, and the people you serve.

Remember that decision making is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process. By regularly reflecting on your decisions and seeking out feedback and learning opportunities, you can continue to improve your decision-making skills and make better choices over time.

Next time you're faced with a decision, take a step back, evaluate your options, and utilize the tools and strategies that work best for you. With practice and perseverance, you can become a skilled and effective decision maker, and achieve success in your professional and personal life.

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