Test Your Skills
We make decisions every day. Normally, simple decisions require a fairly straightforward decision making process. However, more complex decisions usually require more effort to properly deal with the associated challenges; such as uncertainty, risk, alternatives, and consequences.
Making decisions can be very stressful, due to the possibility of conflict and unwanted outcomes. Being aware of your and your teams’ strengths and weaknesses helps alleviate tension and empowers you in taking decisive and intelligent action.
How competent are you in your decision-making skills? Are your skills as sharp as they could be? Here are some True or False questions you can answer to help you decide on where your decision making skills stand.
Decision Making Skills Questionnaire
1. Prior to making decisions I ensure that I have established clear
objectives that identify the desired outcome.
2. I am not afraid to make crucial distinctions such as: “Is this decision efficient and effective?”
3. When a group decision is required, I know where to find the appropriate stakeholders and how to approach them to ensure they are represented accurately.
4. I make every effort to create a supportive environment in which debate, discussion, and scrutiny of potential decisions can occur.
5. The overall objective is to make the best decision for the situation; the goal is not to compete with colleagues or find the “perfect” answer.
6. Built into my decision-making process is the awareness and acceptance that the unforeseen will occur, and I have taken that into account without unnecessarily holding up the process.
7. I think in terms of responding rather than reacting. That approach will help to circumvent any problems that current decisions may create in the future.
8. I am aware of my bigger purpose and use that insight to determine if the decisions I make reflect that purpose.
9. When decisions lead to unexpected or undesired outcomes, instead of criticizing, I ask, “What have I learned from this experience and how can I improve?”
10. Before making a decision I ask, “Is this choice in alignment with my values? Is this me?”
11. I make the distinction between decisions based on inner perception vs. impulse.
12. When I make a decision based on a “gut feeling,” it comes not only from a feeling, but from my entire core of inner wisdom, experience and knowledge.
13. I want my life filled with people, circumstances, and objects that reflect the real me, and my decisions reflect that.
14. I rarely second guess my instinct, when it feels right I go with it.
15. Not making a decision is a decision in itself; and sometimes the best course of action is taking no direct action at all.
16. With every decision comes an element of risk. Although it can be difficult to consistently predict outcomes, I use intellect as well as emotion to mitigate that risk.
If you answered true to 10 or more statements, you are a fearless and smart decision maker. If you answered true to less than 10, you may wish to explore your process of decision making.
Would you like to boost your personal and professional development skills to achieve your life ambitions? If so, contact us to schedule a complimentary discovery session. Visit this page to learn more about me, Professional Life Coach, how I work, and what a life coach does.