10 methods to make the right decision

A person’s entire life consists of a series of decisions made – big and small. The whole future life depends on some of them. Many people have difficulty when faced with making a choice. Let's figure out how to make the decision-making process more effective, and what methods can be used to do this.

How people make decisions

Every day life presents us with a choice, presenting us with various tasks. What to cook for breakfast? What suit to wear to work? Which phone should I buy? Where to go on vacation during your vacation? Should I agree to the marriage proposal or wait? Should I quit my job or stay? There are decisions that don’t really affect anything, but there are those that radically change your life.

All people behave differently when making decisions. There is a category of people who are called “don’t care”. They are never tormented by choice, because they give preference to the first or simplest option. They put on the clothes that are the first to be taken out of the closet, go on a date with the first person to invite them, take the job that is easiest to get, etc. These people believe that life itself will put everything in its place, so they don’t It's worth the effort.

Another category of people is guided by intuition when making important decisions. These individuals always listen to their inner voice and do not doubt the correctness of the decisions made. However, there are not very many such people.

The majority of people are individuals who have difficulty making choices. They suffer, doubt, weigh every option, but still cannot make a final decision. And when the decision is made, they continue to doubt its correctness. If you belong to the category of such people and do not know how to make a decision when in doubt, then it will be useful for you to learn several methods that make the selection process easier.

Preface: first decide on the time to solve the problem

Tasks can be urgent and not so urgent. Sometimes you need to decide here and now - there is not a minute to think. But it often happens differently: time is a wagon and a small cart and it doesn’t matter at all when the problem is solved - tomorrow or in a month.

Example 1: You decide to leave the office and become an entrepreneur. In such a situation, there is no need for haste. Writing a letter of resignation takes 5 minutes, but then what? Even if everything is more or less prepared and there is somewhere to go, there is no need to rush. You think that you can already leave for free bread. In fact, most likely, it will turn out that it would have been better to wait a little longer: study the market, monitor competitors, and so on. In any case, a month or two back and forth usually makes absolutely no difference.

Example 2: you received a fine from inspection authorities. Let's say a dissatisfied customer complained where it should and you are punished for violating consumer rights. Of course, you are thoughtful. There are two ways here - pay the fine as expected or challenge the decision in court. You have 10 days to file a complaint against the decision. If you miss the deadline, you will have to pay a fine. In this situation, you can’t wait and think whether you’ll burn out or not—the law sets specific deadlines.

Now let's move on to the methods of making complex decisions themselves. Let's start with a situation where there is plenty of time. Our first method is perfect.

Method 1. “Descartes Square”

The essence of the method is to consider the problem facing you from four different angles. To do this, you need to ask yourself 4 questions. Take a piece of paper and divide it into four parts in the form of a square. Write one of the questions in each part:

1. What good will I get if I fulfill my plan?
2. What good will I get if I refuse to fulfill my plans?
3. What harm will I get if I fulfill my plan?
4. What harm will I get if I refuse to fulfill my plans?

Think and write the answer to the question in each square. By listing all the pros and cons of implementing your plan and refusing to implement it, you can understand which decision is best for you to make.

Method 2. “Advice”

If you don’t know what to do in a particular situation and stop doubting, tell the two closest people about the problem and ask them for advice. Popular wisdom says that every person has his own guardian angel who protects and guides him on the right path. The Guardian Angel gives clues through intuition. If a person has poorly developed intuition, then an angel can convey a hint through a loved one. Hence the recommendation to ask for advice from the two closest people.

Sell

Sell ​​yourself as a specialist.

And no matter how strange this phrase may sound, it is exactly so. You sell yourself as a specialist, they sell you a vacancy.

Anyone who works in sales understands what we're talking about. Your resume is a commercial offer, and you are the seller of your competencies, knowledge and skills!

The labor market is highly competitive in almost all areas, so be active.

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Method 3. “Expanding the framework”

The problem with most people is that they force themselves into narrow boundaries and do not see alternatives. They tend to get caught up in the “Yes” and “No” options, not realizing that there are other choices. Let's say you want to take out a car loan. You see only two options: take a car loan or continue using public transport.

By expanding your choice, you will see alternative options. For example: you can find a cheaper car and buy it no longer on credit; you can refuse the loan and start saving money to buy a car; you can rent a house closer to work and avoid using public transport; you can even change your job by getting a job in another company located close to your home; You can negotiate with one of your colleagues to give you a ride to work in his car for a certain fee. As you can see, there can be many options, the main thing is to see them.

Method 4 - if you don’t know what to do, act according to the law

Or according to your conscience, as you like. There could be a million situations here. For example, you opened your own business and hired employees. In principle, you can already start working, but here’s the problem: the workers have not yet been registered as required. This requires time, which, as always, is not there. And you decide to start sales and conclude employment contracts along the way . And you can save a little on deductions if you give your salary in envelopes. In general, many acquaintances do not register employees as employees and live happily ever after.

You can’t do this and it’s better to do everything right right away. Savings in this case can result in such losses that you wouldn’t wish it on your enemy. Therefore, if you have a choice, whether it is convenient or according to the law, do it according to the law . It's cheaper and quieter.

Method 5. “Glass of water”

The author of this technique is the American parapsychologist Jose Silva, founder of the Silva Method, author of books on unconventional psychology. He suggests the following: in the evening before going to bed, pour clean, unboiled water into a glass. Take the glass with both hands, close your eyes, focus on the problem that worries you and clearly formulate the question that requires a decision. Then, slowly, drink half the glass, mentally repeating something like this: “This is all I need to make the right decision.”

Place a glass with the remaining water near your bed and go to bed. First thing in the morning after waking up, drink some water and thank your subconscious for the right decision. The solution may come immediately after waking up or during the day. People who have tried this technique claim that it works.

Method 6. “Delay”

If you can't make a choice and make a decision, give yourself a break. When you're excited and your brain is overloaded with information, it's very difficult to make the right choices. Remember how often you made the wrong decision in a hurry and then regretted it? To prevent this from happening, take a break, calm down, and once again carefully analyze the strengths and weaknesses of your choice. There are not many situations in life that require instant decision making, so don’t be afraid to put it off for a while.

Prepare your resume.

A resume is your business card

It’s up to you to decide in what format to write your resume, but it’s always easier and more effective to choose a template with the correct structure and original design, add your experience and send it to the vacancies you like.

“I don't want to post a resume. I’m still working and I don’t want my current employer to find out about this.”

Many companies do not post vacancies in the public domain, but buy access to the resume database.

And how will you find each other if you are both hiding?

And a couple more tips on your resume:

Choose your photos responsibly. Leave photos with cats, family, flowers and bottles for social networks. It is better to choose a plain light background and a casual business style of clothing. You should not rewrite the work book verbatim. If your work experience is less than 3 months, you should not indicate it. If the break in work is more than 6 months, this should be mentioned in the cover letter. List your responsibilities in a list format (like this one). Also include a few terms from your field, but do not use abbreviations that only you understand

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Method 7. “Own the information”

Before making a choice, try to find out as much information as possible about the option you are going to choose. When it comes to purchasing a product, read reviews about it on the Internet. When deciding to change jobs, learn everything about the position you will be taking and the people who worked there before you. If possible, track down these people to get first-hand information. You understand that the employer may not tell you about all the difficulties that await you, and a person who has already worked in this company before is unlikely to withhold such information.

The more important the decision you make, the more responsible your approach to finding the information you need must be. This way you will protect yourself from deception and prepare for possible difficulties.

What to do if you are in doubt: whether to change jobs or not?

To contents

If you haven’t been happy with your job for a long time, and every morning you dread the production atmosphere you’ll have to plunge into again, maybe it’s finally time to quit? Such difficult decisions should not be made thoughtlessly.

Advice comes from Debra Davenport, PhD, a senior professional career coach and president of DavenportFolio, an entrepreneurial coaching company. She suggests answering a checklist to assess your current situation before making a life-changing decision:

1. I look forward to going to work almost every day. (ABOUT)
2. The employer treats me fairly and with respect. (ABOUT)
3. I live on weekends or any days away from work. (U)
4. I feel valued as a professional. (ABOUT)
5. My workplace feels like it's been poisoned. (U)
6. I can be myself at work and not worry about being judged. (ABOUT)
7. I am included in the company's information cycle. (ABOUT)
8. The employer provides opportunities for development and advanced training. (ABOUT)
9. I don't feel disgusted if there is a need to work extra. (ABOUT)
10. My work stimulates me intellectually and creatively. (ABOUT)
11. I feel like I am making a positive contribution to society. (ABOUT)
12. I get paid well. (ABOUT)
13. I often find myself daydreaming about a new career. (U)
14. I feel like my work is a natural extension of who I am. (ABOUT)
15. I feel successful. (ABOUT)
16. I feel trapped and stuck in my current situation. (U)
17. I can count on career growth. (ABOUT)
18. I like to work as hard as I can. (ABOUT)
19. My work activities have a negative impact on my loved ones. (U)
20. I have a desire to try something new and unusual. (U)

If you answered “YES” to the questions under the letter “O”, which means “Stay”, you need to wait a while before changing jobs. If “U” - “Leave” is in the lead, it’s worth taking a closer look at the vacant offers.

Method 8. “Drop your emotions”

Emotions greatly interfere with making the right decision because they distort the vision of the situation. An emotionally agitated person is unable to think sensibly. Therefore, make it a rule: never make decisions while at the peak of emotions. Anger, fear, malice, as well as intense joy and euphoria are bad advisers in decision making.

If you are overcome by emotions, do not make any choice. Give yourself time to cool down, and then take a sober look at the situation. This way you will protect yourself from rash actions and their consequences.

How to get rid of emotions?

Even when you realize that emotions are preventing you from making the right choices, you can't always get rid of them. To make this process easier, use simple methods.

10/10/10

This method allows you to put aside immediate impulses and look at the situation in the long term. The essence of the method is to ask yourself three questions before making a decision:

• How will I feel about my choice in 10 minutes?
• How will I feel about my choice in 10 months?
• How will I feel about my choice in 10 years?

Let's say you want to take out an expensive car on credit. You apply for a loan and get behind the wheel of a brand new car. What will you think 10 minutes after the purchase? You will probably be euphoric, rejoicing at your purchase. But after 10 months, the joy will subside, and you will feel the full weight of the credit burden and will be faced with the need to limit yourself in many things. And in 10 years, when you finally pay off your debts, you will see that your car is old and requires repairs, or maybe you are so tired of it that you want to sell it.

The 10/10/10 method can be used in any situation. It perfectly helps to pacify emotions and look at the long-term consequences of your choice, so as not to regret what you did later.

Stay in the dark

A good way to calm your emotions is to simply be in the dark. Psychologists have proven that twilight or complete darkness calms a person and helps put his thoughts in order. Please note that jewelry stores are always brightly lit. Do you think this was done so that gold and precious stones would play and shimmer better in the rays of light? Not just for this. Marketing experts know that bright lights are more likely to make people make impulse purchases.

If you need to calm your emotions in order to make the right decision, sit for a while in a dim or dark room and reconsider the consequences of your choice.

Breathe deeply

Another simple but effective method that helps in the fight against emotions is deep breathing. Take 10 slow, deep breaths in and out, and then ask yourself again: “Am I doing the right thing?”

Think about what you would advise a friend

To reduce emotions and cool down the ardor, it is useful to look at the situation from the outside. Imagine that it is not you who are faced with the need to make a decision, but your friend. What would you advise him to do in this situation?

Many people notice this peculiarity in themselves: they give practical and rational advice to their friends, but when they find themselves in similar situations, they behave extremely stupidly. This happens because, looking at the problem from the outside, we see only the most essential. And when we ourselves find ourselves in the middle of a problem, a lot of little things come up that we attach too much importance to.

The ability to abstract yourself and look at a situation with an unbiased mind gives a significant advantage when it comes to making the right choice.

SWOT analysis

This business planning method helps evaluate a particular decision. To do this, you need to analyze it according to four points:

• S - Strengths - strengths.
• W - Weaknesses - weaknesses.
• O - Opportunities - opportunities.
• T - Threats - threats.

Moreover, SWOT analysis will help to bring the non-ideal solution to the optimal one. Let's return to our example with chips:

• S - they quickly satisfy hunger, are inexpensive, and easy to buy.
• W - chips are difficult to classify as a healthy, balanced food.
• O - you can eat them on the way and be in time everywhere.
• T - in the long term, excessive consumption of chips can lead to health problems.

The solution is not perfect, and we see its weaknesses. But there is nothing critical. The prospect of having a quick bite and being able to get everywhere looks tempting. And to minimize the damage, it is enough to keep the rest of your meals healthy.

Method 9. “Following life priorities”

Each person has his own life values, rules and priorities that influence his choices. Always stick to these values ​​and you can't go wrong. For example, you are offered a choice of two positions: one of them is prestigious and highly paid, but requires a lot of dedication from you; the second is less prestigious and does not have such a high salary, but you don’t have to work overtime and you have a lot of free time. Which one to choose?

To make decisions without doubt and stress, be guided by your life priorities. If your family comes first, then choose a position that is not so prestigious and paid, but will not steal your personal time, which you can devote to loved ones. If you dream of building a career, give preference to a prestigious and highly paid position that will help you move up the career ladder.

Method 10. “Intuition”

Intuition is a wonderful tool that not everyone knows how to use. She can tell you a way out when rational methods do not bring the desired result. And it often happens like this: you make a choice based on logic and rationality, and this choice seems to you the most correct, but your inner voice persistently protests against it. Maybe we should listen to him?

Develop intuition, and it will become an excellent assistant in different situations, but do not overestimate its role and do not forget about reason and logic.

If you find yourself in a situation of choice, use any of the listed methods, or better yet, use several at once. Over time, you will understand which method suits you best and will be able to use it in a variety of life situations. By learning to make decisions, you will significantly improve the quality of your life.

Two chairs

This method is quite successfully used in psychology. For example, he was advised by an expert in an article about readiness for the birth of a child.

You need to sit on the first chair and imagine that you have made one of the decisions. Think about how events will develop next and how you feel about it. Are you comfortable, do you feel happy? Then the same thing must be repeated with the second chair and another choice.

It's like you're taking two mini-trips into the future. It is clear that they do not construct real events and are intended only to help you understand yourself. But this is what is needed.