What skills do you need to evaluate the impact of your decisions?

1 Define your criteria

Before you can evaluate the impact of your decisions, you need to define what you are measuring and why. What are your objectives, values, and priorities? How do you balance the short-term and long-term outcomes, the costs and benefits, and the risks and opportunities? How do you account for the perspectives and interests of different groups and individuals? Defining your criteria clearly and transparently will help you set realistic and relevant standards for your evaluation, as well as avoid bias and confusion.

2 Collect and analyze data

Once you have your criteria, you need to collect and analyze data that can inform your evaluation. Data can come from various sources, such as feedback, surveys, reports, observations, experiments, or simulations. You need to select the most appropriate and reliable data sources for your decision context, and apply the best methods and tools to process and interpret the data. You also need to be aware of the limitations and assumptions of your data, and check for accuracy, validity, and reliability.

3 Compare and contrast alternatives

Another skill you need to evaluate the impact of your decisions is to compare and contrast alternatives. This means looking at how your chosen option performed against other possible options, as well as against your expectations and criteria. Comparing and contrasting alternatives can help you identify the strengths and weaknesses of your decision, as well as the trade-offs and opportunity costs involved. It can also help you generate new ideas and options for future decisions, or revise and improve your current decision if needed.

4 Communicate and justify results

Finally, you need to communicate and justify the results of your evaluation to yourself and others. This means presenting your findings and conclusions in a clear, concise, and persuasive way, using appropriate formats, media, and language. You also need to explain the rationale and evidence behind your evaluation, and address any questions, doubts, or objections that may arise. Communicating and justifying your results can help you gain confidence and credibility in your decision-making, as well as foster trust and collaboration with others.

Evaluating the impact of your decisions is not a one-time or easy task. It requires a range of skills, such as critical thinking, analytical reasoning, creativity, and communication. By developing and applying these skills, you can enhance your decision-making performance, learn from your experience, and achieve your goals.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?