Do you need to make a quick decision at work or home?

Are you looking for practical tips to help you reach your decision quickly and easily?

Decision-making is so much of an art that it can actually be enjoyed as entertainment!

Think about it…have you ever watched an action movie where the hero has to carefully deactivate an explosive device?

A choice has to be made…and fast!

People’s lives are in danger, the bad guys are getting away, and time’s running out…

Should the heroine cut the red wire, the blue wire, or the green wire?

That’s a pretty tense scenario, isn’t it?

In fact, you might feel the exact same way when you have to make a quick decision at work, home, or school.

Which decision should you make? Should it be your first, second, or third choice?

In this post, you’ll find a step-by-step process to help you make a decision in a timely manner.

Follow these quick tips to ensure your time isn’t wasted the next time things come down to the wire.

Set a decision-making deadline.

Whether you’re making a decision for yourself or one that involves other people, it’s a good idea to set a firm decision-making deadline.

This way, you can ensure a decision will actually be made. There will be less of a chance for the decision-making process to drag on for hours or days.

It’s extremely important to set your decision-making deadline before you spend any time weighing your decision. This will allow you to process information and facts without any disruptions or distractions.

Choose a time that’s not too far in the future. You should give yourself just enough time to think about your decision, be it a few minutes, hours, or days.

When in doubt, give yourself less time than you think you’ll need. Doing so will make sure you come to a decision sooner rather than later.

Make your decision based on available information.

It can be difficult to make a decision when information is incomplete or otherwise lacking. While it’s tempting to delay the decision-making process, it’s wise to work with information already in-hand.

Why is this the case? For starters, you’ll lose precious time trying to locate that elusive additional information.

And once you have that new information in your possession, you’ll need to take time to properly process everything.

So, do yourself a favor and work with what you’ve got. You’ll end up saving yourself a lot of time in the end!

Focus on the matter at hand.

Time truly is of the essence when you need to make a quick decision. Now isn’t the time to think about what’s for dinner, when you should pay your cellphone bill, or look up tomorrow morning’s weather forecast.

Do what you must to give yourself room to think and focus on the matter at hand. If you need to, you can use simple time management tools to help you focus on the matter at hand.

You can temporarily switch off or silence electronic devices or shut the door to your office or room. You can put on a pair of noise-cancelling headphones, go for a walk outdoors, or find a quiet conference room.  

Another option is to set a brief timer for yourself. For example, you can set your cell phone timer for ten minutes and turn the phone face down. You can now focus all of your energies towards reaching a decision.

Inform others of your decision ASAP. 

Once you’ve made your decision, it’s important to share it with others as soon as possible.

The longer you wait, the more likely miscommunication will occur. This is especially the case if your decision is a time-sensitive matter.

So, don’t delay a moment longer: pick up that phone, text, email, or walk over to your colleague’s desk.

Do what’s necessary to make sure your decision is received and understood.

How about you? Where do you struggle the most when it comes to making a decision? Join the conversation and leave a comment below!