Decision Making: 6 Effective Techniques for Making Decisions

Should we continue or abandon this project? Which candidate should you choose to join your team? Should you organize this meeting in the morning or in the afternoon? Which supplier can you trust for this task? At work, decision-making is part of our daily tasks, regardless of the position we hold.

Making a decision is making a choice that takes us into the unknown. We don't know if the decision we are going to make is the right one and what the consequences will be. This is why it is not always easy to decide and that some choices are more difficult to make than others. A bad decision can have negative consequences on your project, your business, and even on your career. However, decision-making is inevitable in order to move forward and achieve your goals.

Here are 6 tips to help you make a decision.

1. Keep your goals in sight

Satisfying the customer, completing the project on time, increasing turnover, increasing the visibility of the company, etc., each choice you make should allow you to achieve your goals. So, before making a decision, you need to make sure that you are going to make progress in the right direction. To do this, you need to know the direction in which you are heading, which is why you need to know your goals and not lose sight of them.

2. Weigh the pros and cons

Do you have some time to make your decision? Take advantage of this time to identify all the possible solutions to solve your problem. This includes solutions that are easy as well as the most difficult or the most expensive to implement.

Then, for each of these solutions, list the pros, cons, and implementation challenges. Finally, determine how each of these decisions will impact the project, your team, customer satisfaction, and the business.

A decision is not taken lightly and each decision must be carefully analyzed according to the context. Above all, it is essential to take into account and anticipate the possible repercussions on all aspects of your project. With this technique, you have all the data in hand to make the best possible decision.

3. Trust your intuition

You don't always have time to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. So when you need to make a choice quickly or urgently, listening to your body and your emotions can be an important help. Intuition is a powerful and valuable tool that we tend to forget. It's a shame because sometimes we're looking for answers that we already know deep down.

Our bodies and emotions often prove to be good indicators of the decisions we need to make. If you are hesitant, sad, uncomfortable, nervous, angry, or frightened when making a decision, it seems that this is not the right decision. On the other hand, if you feel enthusiastic, excited, serene or in a state of general well-being, do not hesitate any longer.

The body signals that accompany emotions are another element to consider when making decisions. For example, physical pain, muscle tension, headache or stomachache, increased heart rate, or shivering are all indicators that should not leave you indifferent when it comes to making a choice.

4. Consult your team

As a project manager or manager, you work with a team of competent and experienced collaborators. So, when you are faced with a delicate choice or a major decision, do not hesitate to call on their experience and expertise to help you.

Bring your team together and ask them what they think of the situation and what advice they have for a successful outcome. Not only will your employees see the problem from a different perspective than you, but they will certainly suggest ideas and solutions that you didn't think of. Close these discussions by making a joint decision. In addition, this technique allows you to involve your team and show them that you trust them.

Because there is strength in numbers, you will inevitably make a better decision by being well supported and advised rather than by staying alone. You can also ask your manager or more experienced project managers to help you make a difficult decision.

5. Have a plan B

You made a mistake and made the wrong choice. Don't worry, everyone makes mistakes. That's how you learn. However, where you will make a difference is by taking responsibility for your choice, by knowing how to bounce back and by using a plan B.

So, in the event of a delicate decision, plan a backup solution that you can quickly put in place to avoid any disaster. As well as saving the day, you will be admired for your insight and effectiveness.

6. Know that no decision is irreversible

Do you know Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos' secret to making decisions? They use the method of two-way door decisions, in other words reversible decisions.

In a blog post, Richard Branson says that “most of the decisions we make are not necessarily final, they are reversible decisions. Even if they seem irrevocable, in reality it is possible to go back. You can go through the door, see how you're feeling, and come back the other side if that doesn't work out. For a company that tries to be innovative, its managers must make as many reversible decisions as possible.”

So don't be afraid to go back when you have made a choice that turns out to be unsuccessful in time.

To summarize

“I never lose. I either win or I learn.” Nelson Mandela

This quote from Nelson Mandela summarizes the mindset you should be in when making a decision. Whatever you choose, focus on the positive side, it will make decision making easier. And above all, remember that no decision is irreversible.

Bonus: having trouble solving a problem? Discover two problem-solving methods you should know.