In This Edition:
1.
Decide and Decide Again
2.
The Scientific Method
3.
The Paralysis of Analysis
4.
Follow that Notion
Decide and Decide Again
Wow, half of 2008 gone, never to return! May we all make the
fundamental decision to use our time more judiciously!
Rebecca Merrill, in her book
Living in Yes, regards
effective decision-making as the quintessential skill in life and in one's
career. Merrill says that we make decisions all the time, and "we never get
to stop doing it." It's vital, she says, to understand that "every new
decision leads to more decisions. It's just a question of how well or how
poorly they set you up."
In this day and age, it's increasingly difficult to make effective
decisions because of the surplus of information that is available. In many
respects, it works against our ability to choose and creates an intelligence
deficit. We must choose. Merrill says, "With every decision you'll
experience some loss, even, and especially, if you choose to do nothing."
Rebecca Merrill states that although we spend a small percentage of our
lives actually making decisions, they determine the course of our careers
and the rest of our lives.
Since the quality of your life is directly related to the quality
of your decisions, it's well worth your while to learn how to make good
ones. Merrill says "you can only make a decision you are capable of making
when the decision is called for." The paradox of it all is that there are no
"right" or perfect decisions. Said another way, "All decisions are a
function of who you are at the time you make them." The more clear your
thinking process, the greater the quality of your decisions.
The Scientific Method
Using one's intellect for intelligent analysis has its benefits when
it comes to decision making. The scientific method first propounded,
introduced, in 1592 by Francis Bacon, an English philosopher, was improved
upon a generation later by Rene Descartes, a French philosopher and
mathematician, who provides the most fundamental approach to analytical
thinking.
Recalling your seventh grade science class, the scientific method
consists of six steps including observation, asking questions, formulating a
hypothesis, experimentation, gathering and recording data and results, and
forming a conclusion.
Step 1: Observation -- Observation involves the use of your five senses.
As you observe, you begin to formulate certain questions.
Step 2: Ask Questions -- Ask questions concerning how and why certain
things occur. Keep a record of your questions and take notes as you seek to
answer them. Eventually, state the specific problem that you want to solve
and conduct research to learn what the experts have to say about it.
Step 3: Form a Hypothesis -- Make an educated guess about the answers to
your questions. One option is to keep a journal of your thoughts.
Step 4: Experiment -- Visualize experiments that could be used to test your
hypothesis. After careful thought, design and perform experiments that will
best serve to test this hypothesis. Repeat each test several times.
Step 5: Gather and Record Results/Data -- As you gather your data, make
precise measurements. Record them carefully and accurately so that you can
analyze them later and draw appropriate conclusions. This step requires
unbiased observation.
Step 6: Conclusion -- Use your data to support, disprove, or leave
inconclusive the original hypothesis. Report any complications that arose
or possible improvements to be made in your experimental procedure. Make
your findings available to others. Disproving your hypothesis is not a
failure!
The Paralysis of Analysis
Analytic and scientific approaches to decision making certainly are
worth knowing and using in many instances. Many people overly rely on such
analysis which takes the form of seeking reams of data before making a
decision. In an overly informed society, regardless of whether you're
making a purchase, hiring someone, or opening a drive-thru restaurant -
you'll find enough information to persuade you to go both left and right.
You'll find so much information that a clear-cut decision is nearly
impossible.
A study was completed on the use of information in making
decisions. Two groups of individuals had to make purchase decisions. One
group was given data, analysis, and articles -- everything they thought they
needed. The other group made the decision based on instinct. After a few
weeks, the two groups were able to see the results: the group that felt
better about its decision had chosen on instinct. More data does not
necessarily produce the best answer.
If you are forty years old, forty years of data is brought to bear
when you make a decision. Instinct, then, is not based on a moment's whim -
it's everything you've ever learned during your existence. Each of us has
the ability to make intuitive choices, but for many, the word intuition or
instinct is taboo. Yet the top C.E.O.s of large companies often make
decisions based on what feels right.
When we're consumed by too many details -- too much information --
it makes sense to switch mental gears and employ all of our faculties,
especially the power of intuition. Time and time again, astounding
achievements have been realized by people who were able to look beyond what
was known or accepted as true, use their intuitive faculties as well as
current observations to arrive at current decisions.
Follow that Notion
Possessing intellect is certainly significant, but so is possessing
instinct, intuition, and gut feelings. In fact, recent discoveries have
demonstrated that there's far more to instinct, intuition and gut feelings
than you might imagine.
Robert Cooper, Ph.D. observes that "gut instincts are real and
warrant listening to." For most things that you want to get done, even
highly involved projects, you already have a strong idea as to how to best
proceed. Often, you don't follow your own inner wisdom. You let yourself be
pressured by external sources that, in retrospect, offer little
contribution.
Evidence is pouring in that it's okay to rely on your instincts
more often! If you're figuring out how to accomplish something, it's often
okay to simply start and let your intuition guide you. All the cellular
intelligence throughout your body goes into a decision based on instinct or
intuition. Your decision isn't whimsical, random, or foolish. Decisions
based on instinct and intuition rapidly and automatically encompass all of
your life experiences and acquired knowledge.
To recap:
* Every new decision leads to more decisions. The action that you
take based on good thinking can change your career and your life.
* When you win the battle for your mind, you can win at nearly
everything.
* On the path to having more breathing space, it's okay to rely
more on your instincts!
