To explain how to make better decisions, let us first look at Dark, a German time-travel
science-fiction drama on Netflix.
The show dips in an out of multiple timelines, showing characters interact with different
versions of themselves and their loved ones.
The characters are constantly making decisions with massive consequences in the present day
and in all other timelines.
There's one quote that stands out the most.
One of the main characters, Jonas, is speaking to Marta:
"Why do we say that?”
“To have time.”
“How can you have time when it clearly has you?"
Time does control us - we're simply along for the ride.
But that doesn't mean our journey is without aim.
When making better decisions, utilising your time is perhaps your most effective tool.
Think of a time when you made a decision you regretted.
Chances are, that decision was rushed.
The more you rush crucial choices, the more likely you are to make a potentially costly
error.
The cruel reality is once you’ve made the rash decision, you’ll have all the time
in the world to think about what you could’ve done differently.
However, it doesn’t need to be all doom and gloom.
Understanding time’s place in your decision-making process is vital to becoming a better decision-maker.
As seen in Dark, the time we have may not be as clear-cut as you might think, so working
with it is the only option.
Other Benefits of Good Decision Makers As we’re using a time motif to become better
decision-makers, let’s start with the obvious.
Making better decisions will save you so much time.
On a smaller, less consequential scale, say you decide to ignore a sat-nav and take your
own route.
Not long after, you realise you’ve gone wrong, and spend an extra 30 minutes finding
your way back.
It’s little bits and bobs of time that, when wasted, can eat into a day and present
ugly feelings of wastefulness and failure.
The more time you save, the more options and flexibility you have.
Of course, by making a good decision, you may close off other options, but because it’s
a suitable path, a valuable opportunity may arise.
In a broader sense, being able to make good decisions is a sign you’re learning from
past errors, a critical aspect of personal development.
Then there are the benefits in your work-life balance, as high job satisfaction levels ultimately
lead to greater life satisfaction altogether.
That may mean securing a better salary, or perhaps being regarded as a leader.
Leaders, after all, must be decisive decision makers.
Understand the Power of Silence Moments of silence, particularly in the Western
world, are feared.
You’ll find that people - strangers, even - will overshare information about their lives
just to fill the space.
That’s the first error when trying to become a better decision-maker.
Take Chinese negotiators, for example.
When negotiating with Americans, research has found that the Chinese were more comfortable
sitting in silence, making it more likely for them to secure the deal they wanted.
It’s a good lesson, as silence can be your best friend when used correctly.
There’s a reason the phrase “think before you speak” is so widely used.
Often, a moment of silence can feel awkward, not least because someone will likely say
that and make it so.
When, in fact, a moment of silence is a moment to think.
When you give yourself a chance to think, the resulting decision is more likely to be
better for you.
Give Yourself Some Post-Decision Space Of course, there will be plenty of times when
you need to make a snap decision.
You won’t have time at that moment, but your work toward your quest for better decisions
will serve you.
Becoming a good decision-maker is all about learning from your mistakes.
That will never happen if you don’t allocate time to reflect on them.
Thinking about bad decisions you’ve made would be understandable if you dwelled on
past errors and were too self-critical.
However, that’s not what concentrated periods of self-reflection are for.
Understanding why you made a decision and where it leads will help you evaluate why
some decisions proved more beneficial than others.
One of the top ways to do this is via talking to someone who firstly has high emotional
intelligence and, secondly, understands you.
Usually, verbalising your thoughts can be a breakthrough for decision-making and subsequent
personal development.
Understand Your Mental Heuristics Put simply, a mental heuristic is a shortcut
used to solve problems quickly and effectively.
For example, investors and financial professionals use a heuristic approach to quicken investment
decisions and analysis.
For example, representativeness heuristics are when you make decisions using your knowledge
of past events that apply to a present situation.
Investopedia provides a useful model: “Fast Food ABC expanded its operations to
India and its stock price soared.
An analyst noted that India is a profitable venture for all fast-food chains.
Therefore, when Fast Food XYZ announced its plan to explore the Indian market the following
year, the analyst wasted no time in giving XYZ a “buy” recommendation.”
However, the website goes on to highlight the potential issues with this:
“Although his shortcut approach saved reviewing data for both companies, it may not have been
the best decision.
Fast Food XYZ may have food that is not appealing to Indian consumers, which research would
have revealed.”
Unfortunately, this can lead to cognitive biases.
For example, reading about selfish behaviour may make it easier to find selfishness in
the people around you, perhaps to a fault.
This is why it’s essential to understand which heuristics to use.
It starts when you think about what prompts you to make a particular decision.
What led you to that point?
Taking a step back and considering the other possibilities, and analysing why it is you
didn’t go for them can help you see those trigger points later down the line.
What Don’t You Know?
Let’s put one thing straight: you don’t know what you don’t know.
So how can you ever know you’re making the best decision possible if you don’t know
your weaknesses?
By figuring out what you don’t know, you can only figure out what needs fixing.
Let’s use an example.
One of the typical ‘big’ decisions you’ll have to make multiple times in your life is
job hunting.
Say you have two options but don’t know what your long-term career prospects are like
at either company.
Finding that out will give you the information you need and put you in pole position to make
a better decision.
Or, on a more personal note, if someone comes to you for advice on their life and you don’t
know all the facts about the situation, acquiring that information is likely the key to deciding
what kind of advice to give.
Know Your Values Ultimately, your values are the umbrella all
of your decisions fall under.
By knowing them, you can align your decisions accordingly.
As we live in a world requiring quicker decisions, knowing the direction you want to take your
thoughts and decisions is a useful tool.
For example, if you value supportive people, the type of person you interact with and become
friends with will align with that.
After all, you don’t want to waste time with people who don’t provide you with what
you need.
You can start with a simple brainstorming session.
Take ten minutes to get a journal out and note down what you feel is essential to you.
This works in the short and long term, as you can influence your subconscious when you
make your values known.
Or, if you’re specifically preparing for a decision, brainstorming your values can
help steer you in the right direction.
Making Better Decisions Is Simple, Really Of course, learning to make better decisions
doesn’t happen instantly.
It’s a skill that takes time, as we discussed at the start.
All of these tips have that in common.
Sure, you can watch this video and note them, but they're useless without proper time to
work.
As you learned at the start of this video, learning to cooperate with time will be the
most valuable skill you can acquire.
At the end of the day, if you ensure you’re putting time aside to notice and understand
your flaws, then learning to overcome them will be the next inevitable step.
After all, time won’t wait for you, so it’s time to become its ally.
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