How do you make tricky decisions?

[Holdfast]

Poll for you to vote on, but commentary even more welcome.

For added fun you can also try to guess what decision I can't decide upon. Or, rather, you can enjoy making up grubby stories to amuse yourselves at my expense.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

For me it's always all about balancing knowledge of the great novels with familiarity with the grifter's art. Yes - evaluating the prose and the cons.

 

[Holdfast]

For me it's always all about balancing knowledge of the great novels with familiarity with the grifter's art. Yes - evaluating the prose and the cons.

OK, so how long have you been waiting to use that?

 

[AstroSmurf]

Logic mostly. I like to figure out the pros and cons first then weigh the information accordingly. And after all that labor and intensity, I will flip a coin. If I actually choose the path the coin suggests is another story. I know it sounds silly but when I can't make up my mind and need a decision, flipping a coin just brings things into perspective. It boils things down into a yes or no answer and it also gives me some idea of what my heart wants depending on my level of disappointment with the outcome. But I would never just "flip a coin" for a decision.

I also make a lot of split second decisions too. I am a bit random that way. You never know what you are going to get from me.

 

[Michael Chris]

For difficult decisions I pray for guidance then I look at the effects of what my choice will mean. The main consideration is if it will negatively affect others.

 

[Jadzia]

My decisions are made by considering consequences beyond the immediate decision, and in particular, what am I trying to achieve in the longer term.

I will often consult the Virtues of Ultima, and interpret the decision accordingly. I will consider the significance of: Honesty, Compassion, Valor, Justice, Sacrifice, Honor, Spirituality, and Humility.

Compassion is my highest regarded virtue, followed by Justice and Honesty.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

For me it's always all about balancing knowledge of the great novels with familiarity with the grifter's art. Yes - evaluating the prose and the cons.

OK, so how long have you been waiting to use that?

About seven minutes.


But to answer the question seriously, I find it easier to use the same reasoning when it comes to expressing opinions: if the action on which a decision must be made is more likely to cause harm than do good to myself and to others combined over a period of time, then the action does not occur. In making the decision, I also look at the pros and cons surrounding the decision and balance them fairly, often deciding how valid they are objectively, without bias from external or internal (personal) influences as best as possible. If anything, I try not to rely on patterns or past behaviours when making decisions about things, and try to see each incident as if seen for the very first time.

This process varies greatly in terms of time taken to make the decision - sometimes it takes several weeks or days, sometimes just a few seconds of thought.

 

[An Officer]

I go with my gut feeling - if it makes me feel good, I do it.

 

[Amaris]

I smash things with hammers.


J.

 

[ITL]

I worry, fret and procrastinate in a feeble attempt to defer the decision for as long as I can. Then I wait for the situation to worsen because of my indecision and I worry about that.



BTW - Holdfasts' dilemma? Invade Belgium or settle down with a bottle of Asti Spumanti to watch X Factor in big, pink slippers and a Hugh Hefner smoking jacket.

Oooh, the agony of choice...

 

[Zulu Romeo]

BTW - Holdfasts' dilemma? Invade Belgium or settle down with a bottle of Asti Spumanti to watch X Factor in big, pink slippers and a Hugh Hefner smoking jacket.

Oooh, the agony of choice...

Alternatively, do both.

 

[Holdfast]

I know it sounds silly but when I can't make up my mind and need a decision, flipping a coin just brings things into perspective. It boils things down into a yes or no answer and it also gives me some idea of what my heart wants depending on my level of disappointment with the outcome.

I like this. Almost like you're rehearsing acting out the decision to see if it passes the taste test.

For difficult decisions I pray for guidance then I look at the effects of what my choice will mean. The main consideration is if it will negatively affect others.

Hmm, this is not helpful, because whatever decision I make someone may be disappointed. Or not. I can't be sure without making the decision first. It's a Wicked Problem to use the management jargon.

My decisions are made by considering consequences beyond the immediate decision, and in particular, what am I trying to achieve in the longer term.

Nice idea, but both options hold out an equal prospect of success, based on current data available.

I will often consult the Virtues of Ultima, and interpret the decision accordingly. I will consider the significance of: Honesty, Compassion, Valor, Justice, Sacrifice, Honor, Spirituality, and Humility.

Thank you, Avatar.

If anything, I try not to rely on patterns or past behaviours when making decisions about things, and try to see each incident as if seen for the very first time.

Interesting. I find experience or some kind of vaguely heuristic model based on assumptions created from past situation is usually invaluable in making decisions. I don't know how you manage to approach a decision the way you do. How do you weigh up the meaning of information without reference to past events?

I go with my gut feeling - if it makes me feel good, I do it.

But what if you don't know which outcome would make you feel best, and can't even approximate the rough odds of each?

BTW - Holdfasts' dilemma? Invade Belgium or settle down with a bottle of Asti Spumanti to watch X Factor in big, pink slippers and a Hugh Hefner smoking jacket.

Asti? Taittinger at least!

I smash things with hammers.

That may lead to blood in this case. And ensuing legal complications. Of course, they can be solved with enough hammers, too.

 

[Amaris]

That may lead to blood in this case. And ensuing legal complications. Of course, they can be solved with enough hammers, too.

All things can be solved with hammers.
Or with getting hammered.


J.

 

[Michael Chris]

Hmm, this is not helpful, because whatever decision I make someone may be disappointed. Or not. I can't be sure without making the decision first. It's a Wicked Problem to use the management jargon.

A truly wicked problem can only be solved in one way: nuclear war. or maybe hammers.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Interesting. I find experience or some kind of vaguely heuristic model based on assumptions created from past situation is usually invaluable in making decisions. I don't know how you manage to approach a decision the way you do. How do you weigh up the meaning of information without reference to past events?

Sometimes, it's always good to have the "fresh pair of eyes" approach to things, dealing with each situation on its own merits - it avoids bias from familiarity and also means you have a lesser chance of missing the cases that slip through the net. Mind you, I also believe in using information from past situations to help with my decision making - although this data is usually based on solid and objectively-assessed evidence. [Congratulations, you've got the job - now, when can you start? - some interview panel member]

It's not an easy thing to do, mind, and bias from personal feelings and experiences do creep in a lot - sometimes leading to adverse outcomes in a few cases.

I go with my gut feeling - if it makes me feel good, I do it.

My gut feeling is also never wrong. If my gut tells me the food I've sampled feels good, I eat more.

 

[Neutral Zone]

Think about, make a decision, hope that I was right and wait for the result. Smile if I got it right and think 'Oh S**t' if I got it wrong.

 

[Jadzia]

My decisions are made by considering consequences beyond the immediate decision, and in particular, what am I trying to achieve in the longer term.

Nice idea, but both options hold out an equal prospect of success, based on current data available.

Then the prospect of success is no longer a variable under consideration. Your decision must be based solely on other (lesser) factors.

If all other factors are at similar equilibria, then your decision is an arbitrary one, akin with Rock-Paper-Scissors.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

My decisions are made by considering consequences beyond the immediate decision, and in particular, what am I trying to achieve in the longer term.

Nice idea, but both options hold out an equal prospect of success, based on current data available.

Then the prospect of success is no longer a variable under consideration. Your decision must be based solely on other (lesser) factors.

If all other factors are at similar equilibria, then your decision is an arbitrary one, akin with Rock-Paper-Scissors.

In the case of rock-paper-scissors, there can only be one winner...

http://www.eyje.com/images/emimages/jun2008/rock_paper_scissors.jpg

 

[ladyheather69]

It all depends on the decision I am having to make. Deciding what to do for dinner is much less complicated than deciding say, when I had to figure out where to go to college

Actually, it really does depend on the situation. I usually weigh the 'what will happen if I go this way' outcome pros and cons. I won't say I haven't made my fair share of doosies in the past, but I think I have done pretty good....

I mean I have been married for almost 20 years to the same man, have 2 wonderful kids, great family and friends, a great life...

Good luck with whatever decision you do make.

 

[trampledamage]

I sleep on it. Or at least spend a few hours doing something other than thinking about it. Letting my mind work on it without my help generally clears things up!