Making job decisions can be a challenge. Knowing which steps to follow simplifies the process, as you can go through each one to make your decision. You can use them to help you understand the options available and come to a conclusion that best suits your needs. In this article, we explore eight steps to follow when learning how to make a difficult decision and explain why decision-making is important in your professional life.
How to make a difficult decision
Knowing how to make a difficult decision comes with practice. Through trial and error, you can discover major life lessons by making incorrect decisions. Likewise, making the right decisions for yourself can lead to career advancement and personal growth. Practising the following steps may help you make decisions more logically and confidently:
1. Put it on paper
Writing the details of the decision on paper simplifies the process of reaching a conclusion. Attempting to consider all aspects of a choice in your mind may affect a potential resolution. There are simpler ways to note the different points you may need to take into consideration. For example, you might write your choice down on paper and then follow it up with various ideas and reasoning. Doing this helps you to create a tangible list of opportunities and obstacles. When you have a clear idea of all the pros and cons, it makes it simple to focus on the most important aspects and avoid overthinking about hypothetical situations. As a result, making a choice becomes more manageable and less stressful.
2. Understanding your goals
When you’re struggling to make a decision, ask yourself what your goals are. Considering your objectives may offer a minor tweak toward a final decision. For example, perhaps you have been offered a new job that provides greater perks, but you enjoy your current position. Instead of choosing one or the other, you may approach your manager to talk about increasing your current benefits. Life changes are another point to consider when making a decision. Usually, they’re a little more challenging. For example, perhaps you have outgrown your current position or you would rather start your own business. Taking time to understand what is important to you and what you wish to achieve may bring clarity. Doing this can make the decision-making process more straightforward.
3. Set aside time to think
Attempting to consider things while distracted by other tasks may prolong the process when making a choice. Taking time to focus on the decision allows you to consider all aspects of the options and reach a logical conclusion. Choose a time when you are feeling focused and centred to sit down and look at things logically.
4. Gather all the information
When you know and understand all the facts and options available to you, it becomes easier to see what would be an opportunity and what would be an obstacle. Conducting research may also prevent you from doubting your final choice. When you’re well-informed, finding the right answer for you becomes simpler. Once you have considered all the options, you may find you are more comfortable with your decision. Achieving contentment once you have made a choice may leave you feeling more confident. This may help the next time you may need to make an important decision. It can also make it easier to know what to consider when making future choices.
5. Base your decision on what’s right for you
You may find yourself tempted to base your decision on what you’re supposed to do rather than what is suitable for you. The opinions of others may influence you, or sometimes, you may feel that one option is better because it looks like the right choice. Understanding the available options and knowing your goals makes it simpler to make a tough decision. For example, you may be offered the perfect job with your ideal pay and greater benefits but in a position that differs slightly in the tasks you may be performing. On the other hand, you enjoy your current job, but the salary and benefits might be better. Most people would advise you to take the position with the increased pay. But, perhaps you know you would be happier advancing in your current company. Examining your choices and selecting an option best suited to your needs might be better. Related: Assessing a Job Offer
6. Take action
Making a decision quickly may help you grow in a positive direction, even if the outcome differs from what you had expected. Even if your decision produces different results than those you were aiming for, making a choice helps to get things going. Moving forward provides you with direction and helps you to end up where you ultimately want to be. For example, if there are a few career paths you want to follow, you might have the choice to continue working as a pet sitter, or you could take up a position as a receptionist. If you choose to remain where you are, you may never expand your skill set. But, if you take the job as the receptionist, you can add to your skills. This allows you to grow within the company or can help you apply for a job in your field of interest. You can add these new skills to your resume and boost your chances in the job application process.
7. Practice decision-making
You may find questions like Shall I transfer to a new branch? or Shall I start my own company? cause you to pause and think a little longer. But, you can train yourself to become more efficient in your decision-making. You might give yourself a period to select an option, for example, one minute to choose what outfit to wear for the day. Then try to go with the decision you make and follow it through. By trying this out with various choices throughout the week, you can slowly build your confidence and apply it to more significant decisions. There may be many occasions where your choice worked out the way you hoped it would, and the ratio of positive choices you make is likely to be higher. These positive outcomes can help you grow and encourage you to make more decisions as you go along. This exercise can make it easier to form decisions efficiently, and it might build confidence in yourself and the choices you make. Related: How To Decline a Job Offer After Accepting
8. Keep things in perspective
You might keep in mind that whichever decision you make, there may always be positives and negatives. Sometimes you choose and walk away feeling as though you have selected the right option. Sometimes you may make choices that leave you feeling doubts. These decisions provide an excellent opportunity for growth. You can use these times to focus on what you can learn from the situation and remember that although the situation may be different from what you had hoped, you can always work towards changing it. This experience can better prepare you for the next time you make a difficult decision. By looking closely at your process, how you can work to better review the information, refine your method, and move forward. You may find that the more you put your decision-making process into perspective, the easier reaching a conclusion becomes.
Why is decision-making important?
Decision-making is essential for advancing your career and professional development. It can involve more critical choices about how to complete a project, or whether to accept a job offer. It can also involve smaller decisions, like how best to contact a potential client or how to delegate tasks within a team. More minor decisions are relatively straightforward choices that may take just a few moments to consider. More profound decisions require more thought and introspection. Sometimes the approach to decision-making is what can make a choice more challenging. Understanding a few simple steps to streamline how you make a selection may help you achieve an answer and reach your goals far more quickly. You can learn to become efficient in making difficult decisions by practicing. You might even follow some of the tips included here to help simplify your process.