The secret sauce to smarter choices

Do you know how many decisions you’re making daily? Researchers estimate it to be between 33,000 to 35,000. That's up to 24 decisions a minute! This week, we’ll explore techniques for effective decision-making, integrating these processes into instructional design, and learning to build confidence and efficiency through our choices.

The power of decision-based learning?

Want your learners to leave your training confident, ready to apply their knowledge and make informed decisions? Introduce decision-making processes into the instructional design to turn students into experts. It normally goes like this:

1. Learners are given realistic scenarios or case studies that mimic real-life situations.
2. They’re then presented with decision points based on the information provided.
3. Each decision leads to different outcomes, and learners receive feedback on their choices, helping them understand the consequences.
4. Learners reflect on their decisions, considering what they did well and what they could improve.
5. The process is often iterative, allowing learners to revisit and refine their decisions based on feedback and reflection.

This process creates adaptable, independent learners who can handle uncertainty, with great critical thinking and analytical skills. It also increases learner engagement and enhances teamwork. To find out more about what this looks like in practice, read our blog post here.

The 6 Thinking Hats

Great decisions often come from seeing things from multiple angles. When you’re in a rut and don’t know how to move forward, try Edward de Bono’s 6 Thinking Hats tool to explore different perspectives in your decision-making process. Each hat represents a unique way of thinking. Don one hat at a time and examine the decision from that viewpoint. The hats:

?? Yellow Hat: Positivity. Focus on the benefits and opportunities.

?? Green Hat: Creativity. Generate innovative ideas without filters.?

?? Red Hat: Emotions. Trust your gut and consider emotional reactions.

?? White Hat: Data. Analyse facts and trends rationally.

?? Black Hat: Negativity. Identify risks and worst-case scenarios.

?? Blue Hat: Control. Keep the process on track and shift perspectives as needed.

Whether working solo or in a group, this process can maximise collaboration, improve creativity and provide more organised thinking to help generate great ideas and solutions.

Decision-making masterclass with Ada Chen Rekhi

In this podcast episode , Ada Chen Rekhi, co-founder of Notejoy and executive coach, offers great advice on how to make decisions at work. One of our highlights is the concept of ‘Curiosity Loops’ that she introduces — a brilliant way to gather diverse perspectives and make well-informed decisions. Here’s how it works:

• Ask clear questions. Instead of asking, "What should I do next?" be specific. For example, ask, "Should I accept the marketing manager position at Company XYZ?"
• Curate your advisors by choosing people who know you well and have relevant expertise.
• Make it easy for them to respond. A simple, quick question can yield powerful insights.
• Analyse the feedback and always express gratitude.