How to Make Decision-Making Easier in the Moment

My goal with this series is to give you clarity before you have to make decisions (last week’s blog), make decision-making easier in the moment (this blog), and after you make the decision you will stay strong and confident in it (next week).

In the Moment of Making a Decision

When you are in that moment of decision-making, you’re probably asking yourself…

• “What am I going to have?” 
• “What am I going to choose?” 
• “What’s the best decision?”

I've got you covered with these three questions. Even if you haven't done the “In advance” work from the last blog of having that ideal life designed, your life purpose and knowing your goals, you can still use these three techniques. 

1. How do you feel? 

If someone asks you…

• “Hey, do you want to be part of this project?” 
• “Do you want to go to this event?” 

Or you have to make a decision on whether to apply for a certain job… you have to ask yourself…

• “How do I naturally react to this?” 
• “Am I excited?” 
• “Am I feeling like it's the right fit for me?” 

It's either going to be a strong, “Yes” or “meh”. A lot of times if it's a strong “Yes”, I say go for it. This is definitely in alignment with what you're wanting. 

​But if you get an email, and you're like, “Man, I don't know…” A lot of times that “meh feeling” means you're not really excited about it, so your decision is probably a no. 

Now, this is not to be confused with that feeling of “Oh my gosh, I'm so nervous. I don't think I can do this. That's out of my comfort zone.” That's a very different feeling. That's like anxiety, worry or a little fear about “Can I do this?” Which is based on your limiting beliefs. 

Not every decision is a clear “yes” or “no”.  Instead, there could be two or more options. ​

It could be a fun decision, for example, “Should we go to Bali or Egypt for our trip?”

Or something more permanent, it could be, “Do I want to have another child or not? We've got a couple of children, and our life is really in a good place, but now's the time to make a decision if we have another one”. 

It might be a decision of, “Do we move to this new place because we can have a slower lifestyle or do we stay here because this is where the work is?” ​

You might have two options that are really good, but it's going to change your life. So this is where we go to the next two techniques. 

2. Connecting to your values

This is an activity you would do with a coach. It’s one I take clients through and they get a lot of insight from it. 

Knowing what your values are and being able to connect to your values in decision-making is so powerful. Because when you look at your values and you ask yourself, “Does this decision put me in alignment with my values?” and that's the case, then you're going to have more energy or a more soul-connected feeling that it’s the right decision. 

But if you look at your values and that decision is going to have you dishonor your values, then it's going to be pretty obvious that the decision is a no.

Let's look at one of the decisions that you could make in life. It could be to take on a project or take on a new role in a company. After some further discussion, you realize the company cares more about the bottom line than it does its customers. You've heard and read on the internet about times where the company has really screwed over the customer or client in order to take more profit. 

If your value is respect for others or fairness, then you see that in working with this company (especially if that would be part of your role) would mean you would strongly be going against your values. That would be so horrible. You'd be in dissonance  (void of energy, or negative)most of your job. It's easy in that case to see “Wow, I don't want to take this role because it would be going against my values.” 

This can also help you in choosing a relationship like a partnership, employee, collaboration, etc. When you look at your values and their values, you have to make sure they're in alignment. Because you saying “Yes” to an opportunity, might stop you from being able to honor your own values. 

If you are very strong in your values with leadership or creativity and you know that in this new project you're not going to be able to do either of those then it might be better to say no. If it’s short-term, you could be OK with it, but if it’s going to go on for years, then it’s not going to be a good fit for you. 

3. Take the decision and cross-check it with your goals

You can ask yourself a very simple question: Does this move me toward my goals or away from my goals? 

I've had clients come to me with a really amazing opportunity. For example, to have a radio show. If they came to me with that type of opportunity, then I'd ask them…

• What are your current goals? 
• Is your goal to have a radio show? 
• Does this help you to reach your goals? 

If the answer is “Yes” and you gave a reason like…

• “I'm looking for a platform to speak on.” 
• “This has had proven results of reaching a bigger audience”
• “It fits in my marketing budget”

Then it could be a great opportunity for you. But if your goal this year is to write a book, or to spend more time with your family, or focus on your health, and this was just going to be one more thing on your plate, then it's not going to move you towards your goals so it should be a no. 

Next year, it might be a great choice because your goals have changed. But for right now you have to check any decision-making against your current goals. I often have to go back to my goals when I'm presented with a fabulous opportunity or one that I feel like, “Oh, I've got some obligation here. I should probably do it.” 

When I go to my goals and I know what I'm trying to accomplish and the amount of time energy and money I need to do it, it helps me to respond with, “As amazing as it is, I have to say ‘No’ because I need to say ‘Yes’ to my current goals.” ​

Those are the three things that you can do in the moment of making decisions. In my next blog, I will share with you what you can do AFTER you make the decision so you can stay strong and confident in it. 

P.S. Get your FREE copy of my ebook “Key 2 Success” so you can stop facing 3 dangerous trends that keep professional women overworked, overwhelmed, and pulled in a million directions. 

Read my other blogs here: 

1. 3 Areas Leaders Should Invest in Themselves
   
2. 6 Ways to Get Paid What You’re Worth
   
3. Where to Focus YOUR Resources for the BEST results