How to Coach Yourself and Others Essential Knowledge For Coaching | Page 314

4.20 DECISION MAKING
Decision making skills can be very important in a careers
context: Which career should I choose? Which university should
I go to? Which course should I study? Of course they are also
valuable in many other contexts in life.
The key steps in decision making are:
1. Clarify the nature of the problem before deciding action.
What is the purpose of the decision?
What is the expected outcome?
What are the key priorities: time, money, quality? Will a quick,
cheap and cheerful solution do or do you need to invest time and
cash to get things absolutely right?
2. Collect and summarise the data systematically.
Decisions can't be made in a vacuum! Gather, collate, classify and
organise the information you need to make a decision. You need
to analyse and evaluate all the important factors in making the
decision. Analyse the various factors involved in the problem and
identify the key ones.
Highlight any critical factors upon which the success on the
decision will hinge.
Sound out the views and opinions of others: they may see
something you have missed.
3. Use creativity/initiative in the generation of alternative
solutions to the problem.

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