A Decision-Making Process

Some decisions, such as whether to order chicken or fish while you’re out to dinner, do not require much consideration because the outcomes are relatively inconsequential. But we can benefit greatly from using a decision-making process when it comes to choices that require more attention or carry more significance in our lives. From decisions affecting our health and families or our careers and society as a whole, using a decision-making process can help us think through all aspects of a decision and increase our sense of agency.

Structuring Decisions is one of the four K-12 Learning Domains of Decision Education. It explores the various elements that go into a decision-making process. In this video, learn more about the eight steps of a structured decision-making process, and see how it can help you navigate decisions in your own life.

8 Steps for Better Decision-Making

The average person makes hundreds of decisions a day – most small, and almost automatic. However, some decisions require far more consideration as they can impact your values, your happiness, and the people around you. Having a plan in place gives you more control, and helps you achieve the results that are closest to what you want.

1.   Framing

Framing is all about figuring out which decision to focus on – whether that’s work, wealth, or something else entirely. Barrowing this down lets you know what frame you’re working in, helping you to understand what exactly you’re making a decision about.

By understanding the boundaries of the decision at hand, you will prevent wasted time on thinking about factors you have no control over or working to solve a problem that’s not the same as the one you’re trying to address. Instead, you help streamline your decision-making process so you can make the best decision in a reasonable timeframe.

2.   Clarifying Values

Once you’ve got a frame in place, think clearly about your values. Be honest with yourself and who you are, not how you want to appear. Focus on your values and use base your decision-making process around the ones that really resonate with you.

3.   Generating Options

Having a variety of options allows you to find the best outcome. You need to consider the trade off each option will represent between your conflicting values and interests. Take the time to dive deep, creating more and better options as you think creatively about your situation.

Don’t limit yourself. Finding the option that best aligns with your values means understanding if the options are under your control, different from one another, attractive, and achievable. Once you’ve confirmed each of these factors, you’ll be able to move on and find out which option is best.

When needed, circle back to your values during this process. Which are most important to you? How far are you willing to compromise? You should prioritise your long term values over the short term, as these are the most impactful on your life.

4.   Gathering Information

To evaluate your options, you need more information. Having a variety of good, unbiased sources – not just the ones you frequent or agree with – will make it easier to get the best grasp of each option. Sources you use should:

• Be current
• Not be linked to politics, specific companies, or pre-defined ideas
• Acknowledge they don’t have all the answers

These types of sources present data while allowing for different points of view, enabling you to formulate your own perspective and more accurately ascertain whether they align with your values.

5.   Predicting Outcomes

The future is hard to predict. People often fall back on wishful thinking, rather than actually considering what is likely to happen. What you risk if things don’t work out and the likelihood of your values being delivered are both things you should keep in mind. Explore what’s most likely to happen for each option you have, bearing in mind the possibility for unlikely results to occur.

6.   Explaining

Being able to explain your decision shows you’re able to process the data you’ve found, organise your thinking, and make it your own – rather than just parroting information or arguments.

Explaining decisions to others can clarify the reasoning behind your decision, and show you’ve internalised everything needed to make an informed choice. It also opens the door for additional input, allowing you to pursue avenues you might not have considered by yourself.

7.   Taking Action

Now is when you can turn theory into reality. By taking action on your decisions, you can achieve the value benefits you had planned. This also serves to show those around you that your head and heart are in the same place, and that you’re committed to the goal at hand.

8.   Reflecting

Once you’re done, take a step back and reflect on the process you took to make your decision. Ask yourself:

• Could I have framed my decision more precisely?
• Was there a better option?
• Were my values reflected in the best way?

Refine parts of the process, and use this insight to make better decisions in the future.

Your aim should be to make the best decisions possible for you and those around you, using the information and values you have at a particular point in time. There’s no guarantee you’ll always get the outcomes you wanted, but by finetuning your decision-making process you will increase the odds of reshaping your life and making better decisions which impact us all.

Empower Your Decision-Making with Decision Education

At the Alliance for Decision Education, our mission is to improve lives by empowering students with the essential skills and dispositions needed to make better decisions. We believe that better decisions lead to better lives, and a better society, so learning the framework behind decision-making is a crucial step to learning how to make decisions which align with your values.

Learn more about our mission and what you can do to help or getting in touch.