Decision making can be your superpower

Decision making can be your superpower. Here is a framework which can help you get better at decision making.

Taking more decisions can help you

Most of us work in the knowledge economy, where we spend a significant time making decisions. There are so many choices that we make during our work days, some of them are:

• Which projects do I prioritize/work on first? Projects to pick in the next quarter?
• Should I invest in upgrading our technology now?
• Should I expand into this new geography?
• How to upskill and move forward in our career?
• How do I divide my time between problem solving and people management? etc.

Then there are decisions which we make outside our work

• Which flight to book?
• Which movie/restaurant to go to?
• What to eat for lunch today?

If we are able to take more decisions we will be able to move faster and potentially get more work done.

Not all decisions are equal - Reversibility and Magnitude of Decisions

There are certain decision which cannot be undone. These are decisions which will have an outsize impact. There are largely 5/6 big decisions which tend to shape most of how our life will turn out. These are generally irreversible decisions. Some of them are

• Where and what we decide to study?
• Where we decide to work?
• Who we decide to marry?
• How you decide to take care of your health
• How you decide to invest your money? Etc.

Another example would be deciding to take on VC money – you cannot unfund the company right? Then there are decisions around which marketing channels you use, you can also change course and try out different channels.?

One way to decide which decisions require speed vs deliberate effort is a good old 2x2 matrix between 2 parameters – magnitude and reversibility

1. Decision Magnitude: What would be the consequences or impact of this decision?
2. Decision Reversibility: Can this decision be reversed with less pain and effort

Bucketing your decisions can help you determine the time and effort you should be putting into them. We all make choices, but in the end, our choices make us.

Decisions are fuzzy by design - by bringing some structure to them you can make more of them.

Thats all Folks! Happy Decision Making!?

Enjoyed my take?, share your thoughts with me on LN —?Amatya Agarwal

Until next time?????