How to make decisions alone

Category: Coaching Notes

It is likely that you will sometimes, if not often, have to make a decision alone. This risks your decision-making being biased, your information incomplete, and your real motives unrecognised.

To avoid these pitfalls as much as possible, you need to try to be as many people as you can. Here are ten ways to go about this recommended in a useful little book, How to Make Successful Decisions by Alison Hardingham.

1. Think about the decision at different times of the day.


2. On a day when the last thing you want to do it think about the decision force yourself to.


3. Read as many books and articles as you can which are relevant to your decision


4. Imagine you are different people – what arguments would they bring?


5. Imagine you are sitting opposite your worst critic


6. Write down all the possible outcomes


7. Force yourself not to think about your decision for a day or two


8. Think of the worst that could happen


9. Try to remember your dreams – look for clues about hidden wishes and fears


10. Make the decision, but don't act on it for a few days

USEFUL LINKS 

• Subscribe to the CorporateCoach RSS feed


• How to Make Successful Decisions, Alison Hardingham


• Decision making skills


• " Yes" or "No": the Guide to Better Decisions: A Story, Spencer Johnson