5 decision making skills you must have

Effective decision-making skills are a key component of any workplace. Although decisions can be hard to make at times, they are required for almost everything a person does in life.
A decision can oftentimes make or break a business deal, new partnership or learning experience. How can making decisions become easier?
Not every choice you make will be right, and sometimes there is no correct option at all. Keep the following tips in mind the next time you have to make a big decision:

• Ask for the opinion of others: If you are a leader, chances are you make decisions all the time. That doesn’t mean you have to do it alone, however. Collaborate with fellow employees, leaders and mentors to reach your decision if time permits. Getting another person’s opinion could help you look at an issue in a new light or think of an idea you had not reached before.
• Evaluate all choices and possible consequences: Know all possible choices and their results. Not thinking the decision through can have drastic consequences. You can’t predict the future, but you can determine what may happen.
• Identify the purpose of the decision: Why does the decision have to be made in the first place? If you know exactly why you have to make a choice, it may help you see the results more clearly.
• Make sure you have all the information you need: If you don’t have all the information, you can’t make a completely informed choice. Ensure you have appropriate knowledge before your mind is made up.
• Remember the results: Remember what actions your decision creates. The outcome can help you make future decisions and changes.

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