Just as people are all different, so are our ways of making decisions.

Personal development guru, Stephen Covey, once famously said: “I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.”

Here are 5 ‘bundles’ of quick insights to enhance your practical decision making:

1. Bundle one

• Do not make decisions that are not yours to make.
• When making a decision you are simply choosing from among alternatives. You are not making a choice between right and wrong.
• As part of your decision making process, always consider how the decision is to be implemented.

2. Bundle two

• Avoid snap decisions. Move fast on the reversible ones and slowly on the non-reversible.
• Choosing the right alternative at the wrong time is not any better than the wrong alternative at the right time, so make the decision while you still have time.
• As soon as you’re aware that a decision will have to be made on a specific situation, review the facts at hand then set it aside. Let this incubate in your subconscious mind until it is time to finally make the decision.

3. Bundle three

• Do your decision-making on paper. Make notes and keep your ideas visible so you can consider all the relevant information in making this decision.
• Be sure to take a decision based on what is right, not who is right.
• Mentally rehearse implementation of your choice and reflect in your imagination what outcomes will result.

4. Bundle four

• Write down the pros and cons of a line of action. It clarifies your thinking and makes for a better decision.
• Make decisions as you go along. Do not let them accumulate. A backlog of many little decisions could be harder to deal with than one big and complex decision.
• Brainstorming alternative solutions with your staff or others will gain fresh ideas and commitment.

5. Bundle five

• Consider those affected by your decision. Whenever feasible, get them involved to increase their c

Recognise that you cannot know with 100% certainty that your decision is correct because the actions to implement it are to take place in the future. So make it and don’t worry about it.