Making better decisions.

What makes some decisions easier than others to make? Why can we make some decisions in a blink of an eye and mull over others for days, weeks, months and even years?
This challenge relates directly to how we view life, our attitudes, beliefs and conditioning. At the core to all this are values, which is to say, what is important to us, what we stand for and how we define ourselves.

Few people take the time to learn what is most important to them in their lives (i.e. defining their values). This is not a simple 2-minute exercise. To get to the heart of what is truly important to you in your life takes quiet q bit of reflection and soul searching. It is also an ongoing process. What is important to you now may have no relevance to you in 5 years time.

Once you are consciously aware of your values, then you can understand what motivates you to do certain things and why certain situations will poise ethical and moral dilemmas. It would be unreasonable to expect that we can live consistent with all our values all of the time. Quiet often, decisions we have to make require that one value be compromised over another. What poises the greatest challenge is when we appear to be put in a position where we are forced to compromise a value that we rate very highly for something we either do not rate at all or rate very low.

Let me illustrate my point by example. Bob is a Sales Manager in a well-established manufacturing business. The Company has undergone some major production process changes recently, which has resulted in quality and production levels dropping significantly below customer expectations.

As Bob has never taken the time to quantify what his values are, he will most likely do what he thinks is “Right” or “what is expected” and will try and convince both himself, his staff and his customers that things are not as bad as they might appear and they will start seeing immediate improvements. The reality is things do not improve, the business looses customers, staff get demoralised and Bob is stressed, overloaded and feels completely out of control.

If however Bob takes the time to establish his true values then he is immediately in control, can recognise that he has choices and can make a decision that ensures he is true to himself. For example if Bob values honesty and integrity very highly and has decided that under no circumstances will he compromise on these, he is now in control and is taking personal responsibility for his actions. Bob decides to explain the company’s challenges to his staff and clients honestly and establishes more conservative realistic expectations for when things will improve. A few clients take their business elsewhere, but the majority appreciate Bob’s honestly and remain loyal to the Company through this difficult period. Bob’s stress levels get under control and he is no longer in a destructive mode of behaviour.

By quantifying your values, you learn what is really important to you and as a result you have options and choices and therefore more control.

So I challenge you now to ask yourself: What is most important to you right now in your life? Don’t stop until you have listed as least 10 items. Be as specific as possible. If “Being happy” is important to you get more specific and decide what does “being happy” mean to you. How would you know if you were happy? Now, rank these items in order of importance where 1 is extremely important and would never be compromised at any time no matter what the circumstances and 10 is important but could be compromised to remain true to a higher value or only relates to particular situations.

When completed, start living your life consistent with your values and notice how quickly and confidently you start making more and better decisions.

GOOD LUCK!

Put this process into practise and if you like, let me know how you get on. You can contact me here.