Decision Making

We all make decisions every day. Some of those decisions don’t require to much thought but some will have an impact on the future. Have you ever thought why we come to a decision? What was it that helped you decide which way to go?

The human brain is fascinating and is capable of making complex calculations and decisions every second. The average brain has between 40,000 and 60,000 thoughts per day. How can we make decisions with all that activity? What we actually do is pass most of the mundane decision making to our sub-conscious. By doing this our conscious part of the brain can focus on the matters that take up more thought. If you were asked what is 9 x 9 you would most likely answer 81 without too much thought. However, if you were asked what is 19 x 17 the subconscious part of the brain would pass the calculation to the conscious brain. The conscious brain would then compute the answer which is 323. That description may be a little clumsy, but you get the idea. The brain functions on auto pilot until it comes across a problem that it cannot readily solve.

Therefore, when you face a scenario where you need to make a decision your sub-conscious brain looks for a previous decision you have made in similar circumstances. If there has been a similar circumstance you would make the same decision, without giving it too much thought.  When you realise this it is a little disconcerting. How many decisions have you made because you were in familiar territory? Were these the correct decisions? Did you really assess all the possible outcomes? What was the outcome of your decision?  Is there a different way to look at major challenges and issues?

That thought has puzzled people for thousands of years indeed the term “Critical Thinking” goes all the way back to Socrates and his pupil Plato in ancient Greek times.

Critical Thinking is looking at challenges and issues from a logical perspective. It is the ability to analyse the issue, theorise about the likely outcomes and come to a conclusion based on the facts. This all seems very logical and the way most of us make decisions. But is that true? When we make a decision we generally base that decision on our previous experience and our own “belief system”. Our belief system is one that we have been taught as we grew up and comes from our parents, family, friends, peers and community. We often follow beliefs without much forethought. The reason for this is due to the way our brain works.

Critical Thinking is the ability to look at each problem from a unique perspective. This is often referred to as meta cognition or meta thinking which means thinking about thinking. One of the key skills is to have the ability to question your own thinking. Why did I come to that conclusion? What previous experience have I had that has influenced me? Who has influenced my decision? What is the impact of drawing the opposite conclusion?

There are a few fundamental questions that you need to ask when your start to assess a situation. Some of those questions should be:

·        Who has brought you the situation?

·        What was their mood?

·        What do you think of this person?

·        When did they bring you the issue?

·        Have you made a decision on a similar situation before?

·        Is the previous decision relevant?

·        What difference to you or your company’s goals would this making this decision make?

·        Why is it important to make a decision now?

·        What impact would this decision make?

·        What would the impact be if no decision was made?

·        Have you got all the facts that would allow you to make a decision?

·        Have you given yourself enough time to think about the situation?

·        Have you a bias that would affect your conclusion?

·        Who else should you involve in this situation?

And once you have made a decision ask yourself “Why have I come to this conclusion?

The purpose is to think about thinking. 

There is a downside to Critical Thinking and that is we could end up going around and around in circles. By analysing all the facts and trying to understand the likely consequences of any decision can lead to no decision being made. It is therefore advisable to use the techniques of Critical Thinking but to have a time limit on when you intend to make a decision. 

You may well be thinking that you tend to follow the process naturally. That is a natural thought but that is using your sub-conscious mind.  By bringing this process into your conscious mind you will give yourself the opportunity to make a well balanced, well thought and impartial decision.

So, the next time you have an important decision to make why not give it a try?