Decision-Making SkillsOur SkillsPersonal DevelopmentPERSONAL SKILLS

Importance Of Decision-Making In Personal And Professional Life

Change, continuous change, and inevitable change are today’s dominant factors. No reasonable decision can be made any longer without consideration. Not only of the world as it is but of the world as it will be. The decision-making ability is one of the best skills you can possess. For your decision-making to be appropriate and compatible with the advanced professional level. Use the mixture of intuition and reasoning constantly and make your decisions to advance in your personal and professional life.

1. Choose your life priorities

Whether personal, professional, or social, success or failure in our lives is the product of the actions and steps we initiate based on our decisions.

 The quality of our lives and our destiny is related to the quality of our decisions. Since there is never a balanced life, it is a conscious decision to choose your priorities daily. But the most challenging thing in life is making a critical decision. Because it involves many tangible and intangible things that are often beyond our control. We always fear the unknown outcome, which comes as an obstacle to decision-making, leading us to seek outside opinions to help make our decisions. It is true that we only have one life. And the decisions we must make are our own “whether we wait for circumstances to decide our minds, or we act, and we act to live.”

2. Be brave

Every successful person has a turning point in their life. This turning point comes when he makes a clear, specific, and unambiguous decision to succeed. It doesn’t matter when we decide our life, but what matters is that we have to make it at some point in our life. Some people discourage you, criticize you, and find you wrong when you decide. When making decisions, you may encounter difficulties that lead you to believe that your critics are right.

Therefore, to decide to implement and work towards success requires you to be bold and courageous.

3. Prioritize the stages of decision-making

The question of making a decision comes only when there are alternative solutions to the problems we face in a situation that requires us to make a decision. If there is no alternative, it will be imposed on you regardless of whether you wish it or not. Since making a decision is a choice that we have to make just when there are alternatives, it is an approach that we must take consciously and seriously to solve the problem that already exists at that specific point in time or find what is possible. And the feasible solutions that we may envision during our daily interactions related to our personal, social, or professional lives of importance, integrity, and values ​​in which our existence, our relationship, our success, and the aesthetics of our other lives lie. Since decisions must be taken based on the seriousness and importance of the prevailing attitudes while dealing with various topics during a specific period, we have to prioritize decision-making based on persistence, perseverance, and the importance of the problems and challenges facing us.

4. Understand the need and nature of the decision

Since the decision you make now is to achieve an outcome that you most desire, not achieving it will lead to unimaginable consequences that will severely affect your career and relationship with others professionally, socially, and personally. Decision-making is about analyzing the situation and understanding the need and nature of the decision to achieve its purpose. The effectiveness of the decision depends on an understanding of current facts and the ability to predict future outcomes. The perspectives of the situation, the environment, and the point of risk in decision-making also influence its effectiveness. But this is the area where there are most shortcomings with effective decision-making management. Define basic behavior and strategy linked to priority decisions that turn good intentions into practical commitments and see them in action. But decision-making is full of risks, responsibilities, and accountability, and herein lies the whole problem.

5. Don’t hesitate

The essential factor in the deterioration of the effectiveness of the decision is “fear and hesitation” regarding the repercussions of the decision if things go wrong. Timely decisions are vital for most of our lives, which, if not taken, will be detrimental to our survival and strength. Decision-making sometimes requires the allocation of significant financial resources and usually involves a level of uncertainty regarding outcomes. Since a decision is unpredictable due to many external variables and factors, one must make decisions systematically and logically. It is better to create, implement, and err on the side of firm decisions than to evade decision-making as unpleasant and painful and leave room for life’s accidents to set priorities by default. We must indeed reduce the risks and increase the opportunities. But if our behavior attempts to escape from the threat, it will end up being more and less dangerous than ever because any problem does nothing.

6. Don’t worry about the results

Often, though, is the urge to make the right decisions. But while making a decision, no one can predict whether the decision will be right or wrong. And the result can only confirm whether the decision was correct. Frequently, we may not make a timely decision, even if it is an inevitable decision on the most critical matters. Simply because of the fear that we may be held accountable for our actions and errors of judgment. “Fear and hesitation” results from facing our responsibility and its harsh consequences devoid of any sensitivity to decision-making intentions and the needs of circumstances. It may create suspicion and mistrust among those we love and maintain in their relationships. Mutual trust and understanding are the foundation of our personal, professional, or social relationships. Procrastination is making a timely decision that can affect our relationships with others. Hence, not taking it at the right time loses its purpose.

Some facts to understand regarding decision making in life:

  • Decision-making is inevitable in our personal, professional, or social life daily, depending on the situation we face, especially in a time of crisis.
  • There is no right or wrong decision. The result of a decision made only confirms whether the decision was right or wrong. If it proves true, enjoy its fruits and results. If it is incorrect, you will correct things and rearrange them. In any case, we must make the right decision to achieve the desired goal.
  • Trust your instincts, and judge what your feelings and perceptions tell you.
  • Success in life results from bold and courageous decisions taken at the right time.
  • Don’t let others make your decisions and direct your life. Be bold, be positive, and lead your life.
  • Don’t put off making a decision and let life accidents steer its course that may not be what you need as your own.
  • Let your decision depend not on what others think of you but on what you think is best for you.
  • Don’t worry about your failures when making a decision. You will be more upset about the opportunities you may miss to succeed if you do not decide in time. Always believe that “success is never-ending and failure is never final”.
  • Difficult decisions are necessary to overcome difficult times. Always remember that “a hard time never lasts”.
  • Never make a decision or stop out of fear. Be bold, be brave, and make a decisive decision regardless of consequences.

Hesitation is the number one cause of failure, and the inability to make timely decisions leads to most people failing in their projects and plans. Therefore, take up this challenge and decide to no longer allow it to be an obstacle to your success.

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Dr Atef Awad

Dr Atef Awad is a university professor specializing in human resources management at Abu Dhabi University. More than 25 years of experience in academic and administrative work. Consultant in developing innovative HR policies and strategies. Extensive experience in developing future practices, including career development strategies, talent management, development programs, and integration strategies. Ability to direct complex projects from concept and ideas to fully operational state. He is a Certified international trainer in human resource development and organizational development.
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