How do you make tricky decisions?

[K'Ehleyr]

"Re: How do you make tricky decisions?"

Decisively! It does not matter whether the choice is right or wrong ~ just that you make the decision with conviction and authority.

If it is right you may revel in the glory ~ if it is wrong then blame someone else.


And if this is to do with what tie you wear with which suit ~ that's just bad!

 

[thestrangequark]

Whatever the wrong decision, I'll inevitably choose that!

 

[K'Ehleyr]

Whatever the wrong decision, I'll inevitably choose that!

The trick is to make out you wanted it that way

 

[Zulu Romeo]

And if this is to do with what tie you wear with which suit ~ that's just bad!

It's worse than that. It's to do with which colour tie-pin is least likely to clash with the matching socks and signet ring.

 

[TheBrew]

I roll a 1d20.

 

[Kestra]

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.

I'm guessing it has something to do with your career and your future?

Anyway, I'd say that I try to consider the facts and consequences of the case, figure out if there's a logical first choice, think about what the "right" thing to do would be (if that's a factor). But ultimately if I have a strong feeling that will often rule any other factors out. It doesn't always, but it does often.

I'd say that this is a bad way to go but honestly, I think most of my major bad decisions have been ones based on logic rather than feeling.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

It might be really funny that I chose the last option if only it wasn't soooooo true. I have Avoidant Personality Disorder and I am on two anti-depressants.

 

[WillsBabe]

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!

Yes! I find this method works for me. I think it's because I know what my decision will be somewhere in the back of my mind but it takes time to get to the front of my mnd. (I feel so uneducated saying this, after having read all the other fancy explanations and terminology being flung around the rest of this thread! )

The other thing I do is imagine that I have made Decision A and also Decision B. Then I work out how I feel about each Decsion, and go with the one that feels right. Sometimes, I think I have taken into account all the variables and someone says something, after I have made my decision, that I have not accounted for. Sometimes that makes me regret my decision, but usually it doesn't happen.

Other times, at work for instance, I consult precedence, policy and procedure and measure the quandry to be considered against what happened in the past. I like precedence, policy and procedure as it gives me a framework.

 

[jamestyler]

In major decisions I have a habit of balancing outcomes, visualising all possibilities and probabilities - almost playing them out in my head before taking a decisive course of action.

I try to go with snap, impulse decisions but somehow I can't simplify things that way.

 

[Captain Ice]

I try to list the pros and cons for each choice. If one has more pros, or pros that are more heavily weighted (ie owning my own home vs a shorter commute), then I go with that choice unless my heart tells me I really want the other choice...in which case logic goes out the nearest window.

If both choices look equally good, then I try to find a way to do both at the same time with the understanding that, after a short time I will either make a success of both or figure out which choice is the better fit for me.

 

[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.

I'm guessing it has something to do with your career...?

Nah, that side of life is now relatively straightforward. I'm checking out of the current day job in about 18 months time - plans for the portfolio career afterwards are maturing nicely (it's more or less set up) and everyone at work knows about it all, so all cool there. It's annoying having to wait, but it lets me save up a few bucks in the meantime, so I can delay gratification until everything comes together in the fullness of time.

This decision is rather different in quality.

If both choices look equally good, then I try to find a way to do both at the same time with the understanding that, after a short time I will either make a success of both or figure out which choice is the better fit for me.

This is helpful and unhelpful at the same time, because I've already been thinking about how carry out both possible choices at the same time and I foresee difficulties that would make a Whitehall Farce proud.

 

[An Officer]

If I knew nothing of the full implications of each choice, then I would probably pray for guidance, and wait and see. And then if I was truly desperate, and it was extremely important, I would try to get hold of someone in the know at any cost, take them for dinner, sort out some sort of quid pro co and all that - cheat a little basically.

 

[Jadzia]

If you tell us more information as to the nature of your decision, Holdfast, we would be able to offer you better advice.

whatever decision I make someone may be disappointed. Or not. I can't be sure without making the decision first.

I've already been thinking about how carry out both possible choices at the same time and I foresee difficulties that would make a Whitehall Farce proud. [...] So it is not a definite at the same time

Shashing things with hammers may lead to blood in this case. And ensuing legal complications.

It sounds like your decision revolves around other people, possibly two other people. From the first comment, it sounds like both are already involved a little, and your decision involves a desire to give something to one and deny/withdraw from another, who may or may not care either way.

The second comment makes it sound like a commitment/investment, rather than an isolated incident. So this isn't a gift/purchase, it's some kind of lifestyle rearrangement involving these other people.

I'll guess your decision is that there are two people who you consider friends, and you are considering advancing your relationship with one?

 

[trampledamage]

Other times, at work for instance, I consult precedence, policy and procedure and measure the quandry to be considered against what happened in the past. I like precedence, policy and procedure as it gives me a framework.

At work, those three Ps are definitely your friend, and always my first call for decision making. If for no other reason than you can point to them when anyone complains about what you've done!

 

[Zulu Romeo]

....

I'll guess your decision is that there are two people who you consider friends, and you are considering advancing your relationship with one?

I think you might be onto something there... I think he mentioned something similar in another thread?

In any case, Holdfast, remember the nine virtues and think: what would Leo Tolstoy and Mickey from Hustle do?

 

[ITL]

^ Invade Belgium.

 

[Shazam!]

No decision is tricky.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

^ Invade Belgium.

Is that what they're calling it these days?

 

[ITL]

^ Invade Belgium.

Is that what they're calling it these days?

I was being literal - you're the one with the mucky mind! Shame on you!

 

[SeerSGB]

Greatest gain for me (and my family) with the least risk to me; if I can screw someone over in the process, that's an added bonus.