Make a Quick Decision

It is a valuable tool to be able to make fast decisions. It is sometimes called "thinking on your feet." We make these decisions in our everyday lives, even if we are not aware of them, such as what route to take to school or work. Sometimes more important decisions need to be made quickly, and you can find yourself "frozen," unable to find a solution. If you find yourself needing to make decisions more quickly, then you should use critical thinking skills to evaluate your options and feel confident in your decision. There are a number of steps that go into quick decision-making, and practicing them can help expedite everyday decision-making. Read more to find out how to make a quick decision.

Steps

1. Identify the decision to be made. 1 decision leads to other decisions or it is grouped with others. Isolate the problem so that a decision can be made.
   • Ask for clarifications, if the decision to be made is not clear. You cannot make a quick decision, if you are not familiar with the problem. Just like solving a problem in a math class, if you don't understand an element of the criteria, you will not be able to solve it.
2. Reduce the emotion involved, if possible. Ask yourself whether the outcome of the decision impacts your life greatly. If not, removing your stress or frustration can help you clear your mind and make a more intelligent decision.
3. Decide the criteria for making the decision. The criteria defines the action that is required for a decision. For example, if you are trying to decide what to make for dinner, the criteria may be a recipe that includes the ingredients you have on hand and something that is kid-friendly.
4. Be honest and ruthless with your choices. Cut out any options that you know you will not choose. This will help to narrow down your options.
   • Understand that in many situations, no decision is not a choice. It is worse than a bad decision. For example, if you are deciding what to feed your family for dinner, you cannot choose not to feed them.
   • There are rarely perfect decisions. Recognize that each option may also have cons. The trick to quick decision making is choosing the best option with the information and criteria you have on hand.
5. Use critical thinking skills. Critical thinking is a high-order of reasoning that values observation, experience, analysis and reflection. Take a few moments to visualize the results with each option before deciding.
   • Make a mental pro and con list. Instead of taking the time to do it on paper, consider how each option meets the criteria you have chosen. Choose the best option.
6. Consider your gut instincts, if you have not yet reached a decision. Quick decision-making in a crisis is sometimes called "reactive" decision-making, because it is a reaction to stimulus. These decisions are often made based on your critical-thinking skills.
   • In June 2005, researchers reported that people often feel regret for making quick decisions even when they were correct. They noted that making quick decisions does not make them more likely to be inaccurate. Subjects' decisions were positive but their perceptions were negative. Figure out if you have the same bias. Understanding it may make you happier with your decision.
7. Communicate your decision. Putting it into action may allow other people to make their decisions and move forward.

Tips

• Critical thinking is an important skill set to develop for your personal and professional life. Practice critical thinking by taking the time to reflect on possible outcomes. Analyze the things you watch, read and listen to according to their pros or cons. Critical thinking often takes people out of their comfort zone, so try to pull yourself out of your mental comfort zone more often, and you will find you can think faster and smarter.

Warnings

• You have to decide what is convenient to you.

Things You'll Need

• Critical thinking skills
• Practice

Related Articles

• Develop Alternative Perspectives for Decision Making
• Make a Personal Decision
• Make Tough Decisions for Yourself
• Create a Decision Tree
• [[Use �Zero Based Thinking� When Making Hard Decisions]]
• Stop Regretting Your Decisions
• Make Good Decisions

Sources and Citations

• http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_99.htm
• http://gigaom.com/collaboration/take-action-how-to-make-quick-decisions/

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