Monday, June 18, 2012

What Separates Great Decision Makers From Poor Ones?





How To Become a More Effective Decision Maker

In today’s competitive job market, you need to distinguish yourself from others. When you add the information overload from the Internet, effective decision-making becomes a huge asset to your list of competencies.

Whether you are a corporate executive, an entrepreneur, or an employee, the ability to make great decisions will make you stand out as a valuable resource. When many businesses have the option to outsource, it becomes important to realize that you are always competing for your job with people around the world. Outsourcing however, cannot replace leaders, innovators, and effective decision makers.

There are many ways to make better decisions, this article will focus on four. The first is to become an
accurate thinker. The second is to surround yourself with accurate thinkers. The third requires that you know your intention. The fourth is to practice healthy diet and exercise.

While thinking accurately seems to be a no brainer, it is often overlooked as a necessity. In order to think accurately, you have to know yourself. Otherwise, you won’t know how the world sees you. Moreover, knowing thyself is crucial to understanding others. Most people measure peers against themselves and their own experiences. Without knowing yourself, you can under- or overestimate your abilities and those of others.

What you bring to the table is a reflection of your environment. A large part of that consists of the people in it. Because most of you do not live alone in caves, your peers influence your decisions. If the people around you provide information that is solely opinion, you may be receiving bad advice. When you make decisions based on faulty information, it may be difficult to see the consequences of your actions.

Learn to question the validity of information people provide you. If there are no facts to support an opinion, throw it out until you have proof. Additionally, you’ll have to question whether you have surrounded yourself with the right people. With accurate thinkers around you, your life and job can be less of a struggle.

The third step requires you to establish your intention. Sometimes you have to make decisions with insufficient information. Therefore, you need to identify the outcomes you want. If you make decision “X”, will it help or hurt the outcome you are seeking? Determining the effect will settle your decision.

The fourth tactic to good decision-making may seem counterintuitive. Diet and exercise mean knowing the foods you put in your body and the intentional movements you make with your body. Foods that are difficult for the body to digest clog the blood stream. This then impacts your ability to think clearly.

Meanwhile, exercise increases the flow of blood in the body. In fact, your brain secretes chemicals that increase positive feelings when you exercise, allowing you to focus on one task. When you develop this kind of focus, it becomes easier to concentrate in other areas of your life. Without it, you’re more easily distracted when trying to solve problems, clouding your view and impeding your ability to see the effects of your choices.

Every decision you make has a consequence. Establishing a sound decision-making process and lifestyle will separate you from the crowd and empower you to live a rich and fulfilling life.

It’s your decision.

What do you think? What decision will you make about this article? 

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