Decision Time

In life and work, people are often admired for their decision-making ability. Most of us would agree with the axiom ‘any decision is better than no decision.’ But are we right?

Many people develop a preference for a certain way of decision-making that comes to define them. Psychologists identify at least five common ways that humans make decisions. Some are situationally appropriate, others have to do with upbringing and education. Most of them reveal more about us than we might like.

Rational decision-making involves gathering information, analysing it, and weighing the pros and cons of each option. It can lead to a more informed decision, but it takes time and may not be practicable under pressure.

Intuitive decision-making relies on gut feelings and instincts. It is often used in situations where there is not enough time to gather all the necessary information. This type of decision-making can be quick and efficient. And so effective that Malcolm Gladwell made it a central feature of his best-selling book, ‘Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking’ . However, be aware that the unconscious biases we all carry within us may compromise the quality of the choices made.

Dependent decision-making is influenced by external factors, such as the opinions, feelings or actions of others. In this case, an individual isn’t making decisions independently, but rather relying on others to make the decisions for them. This can provide a sense of security and support, but it does abrogate personal responsibility.

Avoidant decision-making is characterised by a tendency to avoid making decisions whenever possible. People who exhibit this style may worry about causing harm to others, or fear making mistakes. Delaying decisions for more information, even though sufficient information might already exist, is a common symptom.

Finally, many of us use a spontaneous decision-making style, characterised by quick, snap judgments. We make decisions rapidly, often based on what worked in previous situations and without extensive consideration of all available information. These decisions are usually coloured by emotion, which doesn't necessarily reduce their effectiveness. They’re really useful in emergencies that call for immediate action.

Reading this, it may occur to you that you use many or all of these decision-making techniques. But, overtime, the likelihood is that one of them will become your default. Just consider the decisions you have made in the past 24 hours and how you arrived at them

It’s quite easy to vary the way you make decisions: just pause and make a conscious choice. You never know, you might get a better result.