Steps to Success:The red shoes or the blue shoes … mmmm. Decisions, decisions.We are faced with a multitude of them every day, ranging from the banal to the life-changing from footwear to what kind of sandwich to make, to choices about our future career, whether to buy or rent, how to move forward with a particular project etc.Have you ever stopped to consider just how you make those decisions?Some might say they sleep on it, worry about it, maybe weigh-up options, consider the pros and cons, ask others for opinions or just go with what feels right. Why not flip a coin?Difficult decisions typically involve:n complexity (many interrelated factors)n uncertainty (possible unknown facts)n high-risk consequences (the decision’s impact may be significant)n multiple alternatives (each with its own uncertainties and consequences)n interpersonal concerns (trying to predict others’ reactions)How many of us have a formulated step-by-step decision-making strategy we could explain and rely on for the important decisions we make?We all have a decision-making strategy (even if we don’t know it) but for many of us it is the strategy we subconsciously developed, mostly by trial and error, during our formative years.These strategies may have served us however it’s likely that the importance of the decisions being made will have increased significantly with age and if we have not adapted them, these old strategies may not be robust enough to produce the results we desire.Wondering and worrying about our choices and decisions can lead to feelings of doubt, uncertainty, anxiety and loss of confidence.Poor decision-making is cited as a possible contributor to perfectionism and procrastination and their negative impact.If we are stuck not knowing how to decide, unsure which is the ‘right’ choice, fearful of committing to an option, or concerned about not being satisfied with our result, there is little wonder we can end up stopped in our tracks, feeling overwhelming pressure and the desire to avoid decisions altogether.So how can we improve our decision-making, reduce fear or regret and build our certainty that we are making the best choices possible?By using an effective, logical and systematic approach for making complex decisions, one which addresses the core elements of a good decision and doesn’t overlook any important factors.Such a process will help to produce consistent results we can feel confident about.Here are some key steps in a good decision-making process:1. Establish a positive decision-making environment. Be clear on the issue and have an objective in mind as you prepare to make a decision.Be aware of who you need to involve (if anyone) in the decision and if a group decision, be sure everyone is on the same page about the issue being discussed, the objectives and the processes to move the decision forward.2. Generate as many solutions and good alternatives as possible to consider. Tip: think of three or four alternative ways to phrase the issue, this promotes the brain to find different kinds of solutions.3. Evaluate the solutions — approach this efficiently to avoid getting bogged down as this is the most time-consuming aspect of the process. For each solution, evaluate the following factors:n Risk — be aware of and understand the risk involved with each choicen Consequences — identify and evaluate possible consequences as far as possible.n Feasibility — what are the constraints to consider in the circumstances of this decision? How doable is each alternative and which will create the greatest potential positive impact?4. Decide — create a structure for the decision by identifying in advance what will make the decision ‘right’. Ask yourself: For these circumstances, what is most important in a good decision?5. Check the decision — not all aspects of decision-making are objective. Intuition is important and decisions should ‘feel right’ on an instinctual level.Similarly, check the decision isn’t purely driven by instinct by asking: Why did I think that or why do I feel that way?(Tip: Write the decision down to see it in black and white, and share your decision with someone. Remain aware of your reactions in both cases. How do these reflect on your decision?)6. Implement and communicate — be able to explain how and why you reached your decision. This garners support from others involved in its implementation/ outcome.Create a plan in advance for implementing the decision so everyone knows what to expect and what is expected of them.There are numerous tools available in management books and through the internet to systematically explore and approach each of these aspects of decisions making, including:Brainstorming techniques for gathering many alternatives, Affinity diagrams for grouping and organising thoughts and ideas, Risk Analysis and Cost/Benefit Analysis for understanding the impact of your options, Grid Analysis and Option Trees for comparing alternatives, and project and change management tools for implementation.A really useful resource for such decision-making tools can be found at: http://www.mindtools.comBeing aware of the steps we take to make a decision and taking advantage of the useful tools available can help us to make really well considered decisions based in logical thought.It may take a bit of time and patience to work through them, particularly at first, but when the outcomes are important enough, it can prove well worth the effort.Being able to prove accountability, explain our process to others and feel confident that we made an informed decision to our best ability can be very empowering, besides getting the positive outcome we are looking for.One important thing to remember however is that not all decisions are weighted equally.Which shoes it will be today does not quite compare to which country to invade, although some folks can get as stymied choosing their lunch as they do their career path.Briefly consider the ramifications of your decision and first determine how much time to invest in the decision-making process.Also be willing to accept the result of your decisions if they are not that important.Ask: What’s the worst outcome I could get? What would that mean?’ If you can live with even the worst result, knowing this frees us from getting stuck over a minor choice.Also remind yourself that not taking action, and not deciding … is still in itself a decision.Decision-making is like any skill. The more you do, the better you get at it and as your results reflect this, the more your confidence will grow.Consider and be aware of your decision-making strategies and employ some of the available tools to help make the bigger decisions when necessary.Decide today to be a better decision maker.Julia Pitt is a trained success coach and certified NLP practitioner.For further information telephone 705-7488 or visit www.juliapittcoaching.com.