Never make a decesion yourself,if you don't have to.There is only one answer to many
questions,and,therefore,this method
answers many questions before they are asked...
Foolish
decisions and indecesion are the consequences not only of the complexity of the world about
us,but of the complicated cross-currents of the world within us.So, there are no ABCs for
Decision-
making or we would all be executives.But here are some guidelines that have helped others and may be
of help to us.
Marshal The Facts Much mental anguish can be avoided if we do what a good executives does with a problem that can't be
settled.If you have a problem,concentrate on getting at all the facts that bear on the problem,and
if you've got all the facts right,the problem usually solves itself.
But just gathering facts will not solve hard problems.The point is to marshal them in good order.In
leading companies,leaders are trained to draw up what is called an Estimate of the Situation.
First,
they must know their objectives.Unless you know what you want,you can't possibly decide how to get
it.
Second,
they are taught to consider alternative means to reach their goals.Next,they arrange the pros and
cons of the alternative decisions.They choose the course that appears most likely to archeive the
desired results.It sometimes doesn't guarantee success,but it does prevent them from going off on
half-baked hunches that may turn out to be disastrous.
Beware of misusing the fact collecting process.Sometimes,we go on getting advise,assembling more and
more facts without coming to any clear conclusion.We may be waitng for the right fact to rationlise
a decision that we have already made.
Consult Your Feelings When making a decision of minor importance,it is more advantageous to consider all the pross and
cons.But in vital matters such as the choise of the mate of procession,the decision should come from
within ourselves.In the importance decision of our personal life,we should be governec by the inner
needs of our nature.
Flexibility Too many of us find decisions painful because we regard them as final as irrevocable.Ther is much
more give in most decisions that we are aware of.
Time Managing You should know when to make decision.Time utself is an essential component of many decisions.Its
brings uncertain situations are the most dangerous a person can make.Conscioisly postponing a
decision-decide not to decide-is not the same as indecision.The fine art of executive decision
consists in not deciding questions that are not now pertinent,in not deciding prematurely,is not
making decisions that cannot be made effectively and not making decisions that others should make.
Prepared To Stand a Sense of Loss In making big decisions,we must be prepared to stand a sense of loss as well again.It helps to talk
decisions with other-not only because another person's opinion may illumine aspects aspects of the
dilemma that we have missed,but because in the process of talking we clarify our thoughts and
feelings.