The right decision-making skills can mean the difference between success and failure in any area of life. After all, every day, we’re faced with choices (both large and small), and each one has the potential to impact our lives in a major way.
Developing strong decision-making skills is crucial, and the good news is that these skills can be learned and honed through practice. One powerful way to enhance your decision-making abilities is by taking the HIGH5 strengths assessment. This scientifically validated tool helps you identify your unique strengths, which can then be leveraged to make more informed and effective decisions across all areas of your life. By understanding your natural talents and how to apply them, you can improve your decision-making process and increase your chances of achieving desired outcomes.
In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how to make better decisions, more often.
What Are Decision-Making Skills?
Decision-making skills are the skills that you rely on several times a day. These skills involve analyzing information, considering options, and choosing the best option based on your goals.
Good decision-making skills are important in all aspects of life. They can help you choose the right career, make financial decisions, and even decide what to eat for dinner.
Several factors can affect your ability to make good decisions. These include your knowledge, experience, and personal preferences.
That said, some people are naturally good at making decisions, while others may need to work on improving their skills.
Benefits and Importance of Decision-Making Skills
Decision-making is an essential life skill that shapes the trajectories of our lives and the lives of those around us. Possessing strong decision-making abilities enables us to navigate challenges effectively, plan for the future with greater clarity, and avoid making choices that could lead to negative consequences. By taking the HIGH5 strengths assessment, you can gain invaluable insights into your natural strengths, empowering you to make decisions that align with your unique talents and propelling you towards success in both personal and professional domains.
There are many benefits to developing strong decision-making skills. The following benefits are just a few of the reasons why it’s so important to recognize and develop these skills:
- Improved critical thinking
- Enhanced problem-solving ability
- Greater clarity and focus
- Increased confidence
- Enhanced ability to make informed choices
- Improved time management
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Improved communication
- Stronger relationships
- Increased life satisfaction
Pro Tip From HIGH5
When facing a difficult decision, consider how your unique strengths, as identified by the HIGH5 assessment, can be applied to the situation. For example, if one of your top strengths is analytical thinking, you could employ it to thoroughly evaluate the pros and cons of each option before making a choice.
10 Examples of Decision-Making Skills
Let’s now consider examples of decision-making skills that you can draw on.
Being Able To Prioritize Tasks
Knowing which tasks are the most important and need to be completed first is a key decision-making skill. This can often mean making tough choices and saying ‘no’ to less important tasks. This is something most people struggle with as it can be difficult to know where to draw the line.
Being Decisive
Another important decision-making skill is being decisive. This means being able to make a decision and stick to it, even when it’s not popular or easy. It can be helpful to weigh up the pros and cons of a situation before making a decision, but at the end of the day, you need to be confident in your decision and be able to justify it.
Being Able To Think Creatively
Creativity is a key ingredient in many successful decisions. Being able to come up with new and innovative ideas is often what sets apart the best decision-makers from the rest. If you’re stuck in a rut, it can be helpful to brainstorm with others to come up with some outside-the-box ideas.
Being Able To Solve Problems
An important part of decision-making is being able to identify and solve problems. This might involve coming up with creative solutions to difficult problems or simply knowing when and how to ask for help. Either way, being able to effectively solve problems is a valuable decision-making skill.
Being Able To Think Laterally
Lateral thinking is another key decision-making skill. This involves thinking creatively and looking at problems from different angles. It can be helpful to brainstorm with others when trying to think in this way as two heads are often better than one.
Being Resourceful
Resourcefulness is another important decision-making skill. This means being able to make use of the resources you have available to you, whether that’s people, information, or money. It can often mean thinking outside the box and using what you have in new and innovative ways.
Having Good Judgment
Good judgment is a vital decision-making skill. This is all about weighing up the pros and cons of a situation and making a sound judgment about what is the best course of action. This can be difficult, especially when there are conflicting opinions or emotions involved. However, it is an essential skill for any good decision-maker.
Being Able To Plan And Organize
Planning and organization are two other key skills to have. Whether it’s planning for a difficult decision or being organized enough to keep track of all the different options, these skills are essential for making good decisions.
Being Resilient
Resilience is one skill that takes up muscle memory to build up. Being able to cope with setbacks and challenges and still make successful decisions is not always easy. It can be helpful to have a support network in place when things get tough, but ultimately it’s up to you to stay focused and make the best decisions you can.
Being Adaptable
Finally, adaptability is an important decision-making skill. Adjusting your plans and decisions in response to changing circ*mstances is often the key to success. This doesn’t mean being indecisive, but rather being flexible and willing to change your plans when necessary.
Pro Tip From HIGH5
Identify situations in your daily life where you can practice the decision-making skills highlighted in this section, such as problem-solving or lateral thinking. Intentionally applying your strengths, identified by the HIGH5 test, in these scenarios can help you develop and refine these abilities over time.
How To Identify & Master Decision-Making Skills
Decision-making skills are critical for success in any area of life. Whether you’re choosing what to wear, what to eat, or how to spend your time, the ability to make effective decisions is essential.
Identifying the different types of decision-making skills can help you to develop and hone these abilities. Depending on the situation you find yourself in, different skills may be more or less important.
Mastering decision-making skills is a journey that requires dedication and consistent practice. However, by intentionally developing and applying these abilities, you’ll gradually enhance your decision-making prowess. One invaluable tool in this process is the HIGH5 strengths assessment, which provides personalized insights into your unique strengths and how to leverage them effectively. By aligning your decision-making approach with your natural talents, you can streamline your growth and become a more confident and effective decision-maker across various domains of life.
Here are some ideas to help you master decision-making skills.
Know Your Goals
Before you can make any decision, it’s important to know what you want to achieve. What are your goals? What do you hope to accomplish? Once you have a clear understanding of your goals, you can start to narrow down your options and make better decisions.
Consider The Consequences
Every decision you make will have some kind of consequence, good or bad. It’s important to consider the potential outcomes of your choices before making a decision. What are the risks and rewards associated with each option? By thinking about the consequences ahead of time, you can make more informed decisions.
Weigh The Pros And Cons
Listing out the pros and cons of each option can be a helpful way to make a decision. This technique allows you to see the different sides of each choice and choose the option that’s best for you.
Trust Your Gut
Sometimes, the best decision is the one that feels right. If you’re stuck between two choices, go with your gut instinct. More often than not, it will lead you in the right direction.
Be Confident In Your Decisions
No matter what decision you make, it’s important to be confident in your choice. Second-guessing yourself will only lead to confusion and uncertainty. Once you’ve made a decision, stick with it and don’t look back.
Take The Right Strengths Test
Knowing your strengths can help you make better decisions. There are many different personalities and career tests available online that can help you identify your strengths. The HIGH5 strengths test can help you identify your top strengths, which can be useful in making decisions.
Practice Makes Perfect
The more you practice making decisions, the better you’ll become at it. Put yourself in different situations and practice making different types of decisions. The more experience you have, the easier decision-making will become.
Pro Tip From HIGH5
Seek out a mentor or coach who can provide guidance and support as you work to develop your decision-making skills. They can offer valuable insights on how to leverage your unique strengths, identified by the HIGH5 test, effectively in various decision-making contexts.
How To Improve Decision-Making Skills in The Workplace
Possessing robust decision-making skills is paramount in the professional realm, as the ability to make sound judgments can be the deciding factor between success and failure in any business endeavor. To cultivate these essential skills, consider taking the HIGH5 strengths assessment. By identifying your unique strengths and understanding how to leverage them effectively, you can enhance your decision-making capabilities in the workplace, enabling you to navigate complex scenarios with greater confidence and clarity, ultimately contributing to the success of your organization.
There are a few key things you can do to improve your decision-making skills in the workplace.
Be Well-Informed
This may seem like an obvious one, but it’s worth mentioning. Before you can make a good decision, you need to have all the relevant information at your disposal. Gather as much data as you can before making a move.
Consider All Options
Don’t just go with your first instinct – take the time to weigh up all of your options before making a decision. This will help you to avoid any impulsive, rash decisions.
Listen To Others
Get input from others before making a decision – especially if it’s a big one. Other people may have perspectives and insights that you haven’t considered.
Be Prepared To Change Your Mind
Don’t be afraid to change your mind if new information comes to light or if you simply realize that another option is better than the one you originally chose. Being flexible and adaptable is key to good decision-making.
By following these tips, you can improve your decision-making skills in the workplace and increase your chances of success.
Pro Tip From HIGH5
Encourage your team members or colleagues to take the HIGH5 strengths assessment as well. Having a shared understanding of each individual’s strengths can foster more effective collaboration and enable your team to make better collective decisions that leverage the diverse talents within the group.
How To Highlight Decision-Making Skills In Resume & Job Interviews
Decision-making skills are important for anyone in a position of responsibility. After all, making decisions is what leaders do! That said, everyone needs to make several decisions during their working day.
When it comes to your job search, highlighting your decision-making skills can help you stand out from the crowd and demonstrate to potential employers that you’re a confident and capable candidate.
There are a few different ways you can showcase your decision-making skills on your resume and during job interviews. For example, you can discuss a time when you had to make a difficult decision at work or describe a situation where you utilized creative problem-solving to find a solution. You can also share examples of times when you’ve made decisions that resulted in positive outcomes for your employer.
When discussing your decision-making skills in a job interview, be sure to emphasize your ability to think quickly and logically under pressure. You’ll want to make sure that the interviewer understands that you’re capable of making sound decisions even when you’re feeling stressed or facing a tight deadline.
If you’re not sure how to highlight your decision-making skills on your resume or during a job interview, consider these tips:
- Start by taking a look at the job description and identify the key skills and qualities that the employer is looking for. Then, think about specific examples from your past experiences where you’ve demonstrated those same skills.
- When describing your experiences, use concrete details and numbers to illustrate the results of your decisions. For example, if you helped your team increase sales by 10% through a decision you made, be sure to mention that in your discussion.
- Avoid using generalities or vague language when discussing your decision-making skills. Instead, use specific examples and stories that will help the interviewer understand exactly what you’re capable of.
- Finally, remember that the best way to demonstrate your decision-making skills is to show them in action. If you have an opportunity to do so during the interview, take it! For example, you might be asked to make a mock business decision as part of the interview process. This is your chance to showcase your skills and impress the interviewer.
Bonus Advice: Decision-Making Skills & Judgement In Various Situations
One of the most important things you can do in life is to develop strong decision-making skills. The ability to make sound judgment calls in various situations is a critical life skill that will help you achieve success both personally and professionally.
Here are some tips to help you hone your decision-making skills:
- Take your time. Don’t rush into decisions without giving them due consideration. Weigh all the pros and cons before concluding.
- Seek input from others. When faced with a difficult decision, it can be helpful to solicit input from trusted friends or family members. Their perspectives may help you see the situation in a new light.
- Be prepared to live with the consequences. Remember that every decision comes with its own set of consequences, both good and bad. Be prepared to accept responsibility for the outcome, whatever it may be.
- Stay calm and composed. It’s important to stay level-headed when making decisions, especially under pressure. Keep your emotions in check and think with a clear head.
Decision-Making Skills For Students
Keeping the above tips in mind, as a student, you will often be faced with decisions that can impact your future. Here are some specific examples of decision-making skills you can use in various situations:
- Registering for classes – When registering for classes, it’s important to consider your long-term goals. What do you want to achieve by taking this class? Is it a requirement for your major? Will it help you get ahead in your career?
- Studying abroad – Studying abroad is a big decision with many factors to consider. Do your research and make sure you are prepared for the cost, the culture shock, and the homesickness before committing.
- Social life vs. academics – It can be difficult to strike a balance between socializing and academics, but it’s important to make time for both. Don’t let your grades suffer just because you’re trying to have a good time.
- Choosing a major – This is a huge decision that will affect the rest of your life. Make sure you choose something you are passionate about and will enjoy studying for the next four years.
- Career goals – What do you want to do with your life? It’s never too early to start thinking about your future career. Research different options and talk to people in the field to get a better idea of what’s out there.
Decision-Making Skills for Managers & Business
Another situation where decision-making skills are very important is in business. As a manager or business owner, you will often have to make tough decisions that can impact your company’s bottom line.
Here are some examples of decision-making skills you can use in various business situations:
- Hiring and firing employees – This is one of the most difficult decisions you will have to make as a manager. When hiring, be sure to conduct thorough interviews and reference checks. When it comes to firing, be sure you have a valid reason and are prepared to deal with the fallout.
- Making budget cuts – If your company is facing financial difficulties, you may have to make some tough choices about where to cut costs. Be thoughtful about your decisions and consider the long-term effects they may have.
- Negotiating contracts – When negotiating contracts with vendors or clients, it’s important to get the best deal possible for your company. Be prepared to walk away if the other party isn’t budging on their offer.
- Launching a new product – Before launching a new product, you need to do your research and make sure there is a demand for it. You also need to consider the cost of production and marketing and set a realistic price point.
- Expanding your business – If you’re thinking about expanding your business, you need to consider the risks and rewards carefully. Make sure you have a solid plan in place before taking the plunge.
Decision-Making Skills FAQs
What are the 7 decision-making skills?
Seven key skills that are crucial when making decisions are:
- Gathering and analyzing information
- Recognizing and defining the problem
- Developing alternative solutions
- Evaluating alternatives
- Selecting the best solution
- Implementing the solution
- Monitoring and modifying the solution
What is a good example of decision-making?
A good yet simple example of decision-making would be if you are trying to decide what to eat for dinner. You would first gather all of the information about what you are hungry for and what you have available to cook. Then, you would recognize and define the problem (I need to decide what to eat).
Next, you would develop alternative solutions (I could order a pizza, or I could make a sandwich). After evaluating the alternatives, you would select the best solution (making a sandwich) and implement it (by cooking the sandwich).
Finally, you would monitor and modify the solution as needed (adding more condiments or cheese to the sandwich if desired).
