THINKING FACULTY

On a daily basis, we make decisions in virtually every aspect of our lives, some are conscious and others may not be deliberate. Various internet sources estimate that an adult makes about 35,000 remotely conscious decisions each day [in contrast a child makes about 3,000. This number may sound absurd, but you will be amazed to know that each minute counts.

Decision making is not just about the output but the process that is made to get the output. Information is critical in decision making.

You and I have been given a free-will and a multitude of choices in life about:

• what to eat
• what to wear
• what to purchase
• what we believe
• what jobs and career choices we will pursue
• how we vote
• who to spend our time with
• who we will date and marry
• what we say and how we say it
• whether or not we would like to have children
• what we will name our children
• who our children spend their time with
• what they will eat, etc

The key in decision making is that logic should control our thinking not emotions.

For a decision to be well thought and sound, there are some vital steps to be taken. Some of them are:

1. Identify and specify the problem

You need to understand the context. Context making is important. In business, we should try to identify the problem, not the symptom.

• Ascertain the objective

You need to specify the objective such that it is measurable and countable.

• Determine the Alternatives to the objectives

These are the different alternatives to meeting the objectives. You must be creative enough to brainstorm.

• Determine your decision criteria

If you use the wrong criteria, you will make a wrong decision

• Analise each alternative using your decision criteria.
• Make a decision
• Create an action plan
• Do it
• Review your decision

Ask yourself if you think you solved the problem