In order for your students to become good decision makers, they need to learn about several factors that influence decision making. Things like behavior style, courage and personal values all influence the way decisions are made.
Here are some factors that influence decision making to teach your students:
- Behavior style
- Authority figures
- Courage
- Too much information
- Your personal values
Behavior Style
Behavior styles influence decision-making tendencies. It is easy, for example, to follow the 8-step decision making process if there is plenty of time and resources. But when under stress, people with certain behavior styles tend to make decisions based on impulse or emotion. Some people tend to make a decision very quickly because they often rely on their first impulse or impression of the situation. Making an impulsive decision could lead to some very bad decisions.
On the other hand, some people may make decisions very slowly and tend to take longer than the time available to reach a decision. The decision may be correct, but if it is too late to solve the problem, it is not correct. Following the process, even when under stress, will help to avoid a bad decision.
Authority Figures
Not every decision is ours to make. It is important to know when and to whom authority should be delegated to make a decision. Before delegating that power, however, be sure the person being trusted to make that decision has the skills needed to make a good decision.
Courage
Courage, or bravery, is a necessary ingredient in good decision making. It takes a lot of courage and confidence to act on decisions. You must believe in what you are doing before you are able to convince others to go along with your decision. Understanding the decision-making process will help give you the confidence and courage to act on your decisions and to inspire others to help implement them.
Too much information
More detailed information does not always mean a better decision. In fact, too much information could mean the opposite and cloud the decision making process. With all the information readily available to us today via the internet, we don’t always use our creative thought processes the way we should. This can lead to decisions that are founded on fact rather than using new and innovative ways of looking at things. We also may believe that more facts allow for more accuracy in the decision making process. This is simply not true. The best decision makers are actually those who do not rely only on facts; rather, they use their creativity to find the best solution.
Your personal values
Once you know what you value, you can better understand your behavior. You must understand that your beliefs produce your attitudes, your attitudes produce feelings and your feelings lead to your behavior. Decision making demands that you use your value system. Decisions that match your values are more likely to be the right choices for you. Complete the following exercise to better understand your values.
Thanks for tuning into our post on factors that influence decision making. If you would like to learn more about teaching success skills to your students, sign up for a free soft skills webinar.
