2. Steps of Decision Making
• 1. Define or Identify the Problem/Want/Need
• 2. Gather Information about the problem, want or
need (think about it) Identify ways to deal with the
problem
• 3. Evaluate all of the Information (pros & cons) (the
good and the bad)
• 4. Select Best Choice for you (select a solution) Think
about the possible results of each action
• 5. Take Action – Do it - Make a responsible decision
• 6. Review Your Choice (would you do something
different next time?) make changes if needed
3. Think about possible results
• Is it safe to me and others?
• Is it legal?
• Does it show respect for self and others?
• Does it follow parent’s guidelines?
• Would my parents and teachers approve?
• Would it help me to have a better future?
4. How will my decisions change my…
• Personal life/social life
• Leisure activities
• Community atmosphere
• Learning attitude
• Family
• Work roles
• Goals
• Finances
5. Leadership & Decisions
• Good decision making is an essential skill for
career, financial and personal success.
• If you can learn to make timely and well-
considered decisions, then you can often lead
yourself into spectacular and well-deserved
successes.
• However, if you make poor decisions, you risk
failure.
6. Decision Making
• Do not make decisions that are not yours to
make.
• When making a decision you are simply
choosing from among alternatives. You are
not making a choice between right and wrong.
• Avoid snap decisions. Move fast on the
reversible ones and slowly on the non-
reversible.
• Do your decision making on paper. Make
notes and keep your ideas visible so you can
consider all the relevant information in
making this decision.
7. Decisions
• Remember that not making a decision is a
decision not to take action.
• Trust yourself to make a decision and then to
be able to accept and handle the
consequences of that decision appropriately.
• Before implementing what appears to be the
best choice, assess the risk by asking "What
can I think of that might go wrong with this
alternative ?"
8. Decisions
• Write down the pros and cons. It clarifies your
thinking and makes for a better decision.
• Make decisions as you go along. Do not let them
accumulate. A backlog of many little decisions could
be harder to deal with than one big and complex
decision.
• Consider those affected by your decision. Whenever
feasible, get them involved to increase their
commitment.
• Recognize that you cannot know with 100% certainty
that your decision is correct because the actions to
implement it are to take place in the future. So make
it and don't worry about it.
9. Think about it!
• You've probably been taught not to
stereotype people based on race, religion or
sex.
• But when you make a career or business
decision, do you still make decisions based on
bias and stereotypes?
• Remember you can be anything you want to
be with the right education and training.
10. Decisions are made daily!
• Do you use responsible decision making
steps?
• Do you think of the consequences before
making your decisions?
• How can you improve your decision making
strategies?
11. Now, what decisions have you had to make this year?
• Get in a fight or not? • Spend or save money
• Yell at someone or not? • Wear a jacket or not?
• Hit someone or not? • What to eat?
• Fail my class or not? • When to eat?
• Do my homework or not? • Bring my lunch or buy a lunch?
• Get a demerit or not? • How to dress?
• Run in the hall or not? • What to wear?
• Be on time to class or not? • When to get up?
• Get water or not? • What time to go to bed at night?
• Lie to a teacher or not? • To talk in class or not?
• Go hunting and kill an animal or not? • To bring all supplies to class or not?
• Roll my eyes at people or not? • To run away or not?
• Cuss or not? • To follow the rules or not?
• Sleep in class or not? • Where to sit?
• Be respectful or not? • What to watch on TV?
• Make straight A’s or not? • Doing what I’m told or not?
• Do my chores or not? • Cooking supper to surprise mom or not?
• Do my class work or not? • To behave in school or not?
• Study for my test or not? • To pay attention or not?
• Have a good attitude or not? • To participate in activities or not?
• Be kind to others or not? • To do my project or not?
• Be careful or not? • Have appropriate attitude or not?
• Listening and following instructions or not? • Read 25 books or not?
• Working harder or not? • Take responsibility for my pets or not?
• Turning in all of my work or not? • Use my agenda every day or not?
12. Those decisions were really your goals
for the year.
• Read 25 books or not to read 25 books
• I will read 25 books this year at home to make
sure that I meet the reading standard for my
grade level.
13. Decision making linked to goals
• Now think about yourself, what decision or goals
have you set for yourself for the next few weeks?
• Make a list of two goals that you plan to do within
the next month.
• Now use the steps of decision making to make sure
that you are making the correct decision in both of
those goals.
• Show your work for each step of the decision making
in relations to both goals.
• This will be your assessment for your grade today.
