Good Decision Making in Social Life!

Decision making ... hmm! what decision making ? Do I really need it life ... life will go on.. why to complicated by decisions and all .. I am not a leader why to worry about such a stupid thing?

These are the questions that people will ask if you ask them if they wish to learn decision making...
BUT think a minute... even if you decided not to learn decision making even then you have made a decision... That means decision will come to you freely either you make them or accept them .. So decision making is not important ... Its GOOD DECISION MAKING that's important... How to make good decisions is the topic of interest for me today as I am also going through a turbulence. I am pressed by my ego, societal pressure and fears & insecurities etc etc ....

So let me write about good decision making and then God may give me intelligence and courage to overcome my fears and help me to make right decision.

Every good decision making process involves following steps in sequence:

1. Problem statement or scenario or options :
Understand the problem/scenario/options first. Have discussion to really know the severity, impact and area of the problem. Complete understanding of things will give you options. It may turn out that problem is very small or almost non-existent and probably its the result of irrational thinking.

2. Discussion with the concerned parties :
Its a very very important step in right decision making. You have to approach to the people as an object of emotions and not an object of intellect. Don't be rude... Don't be generic when you really discuss things. People will consider your point only if they find you genuine, respectable and considerate to their views. Once you win trust of people, their intellect will come out automatically.

3. Count your options :
Options are in fact the drivers for your decision. If you have only one option for a problem, Its simple. Explain this option to everybody, convince people and that's it. You can't do anymore other than accepting and then working in accordance with the option.

Real game starts when you have multiple options and you are really don't know which option is best. Make a list of options. Derive a matrix out of your criteria and then evaluate your options.
prioritize them and choose top 2-3 for further discussion.

4. Re Discuss options with all the parties :
Discuss your options with all the parties involve. Present your chosen options to them. Don't tell them you have decided or favoring any one option. It will stop the thought process and people may find it difficult to accept things presented to them. If people find new options appealing go back to point 2 and start again.

5. Choose the most acceptable option and do not go for the theoretically better option. Anything which is not accepted by the team will fail.

Bottom line is give yourself enough time, discuss, think and then decide. It will help you to get rid of a lot of trouble.