Do you know how to successfully go about making a decision? As a coach this is a crucial strategy to have in your tool box as you will need to guide your clients and students in becoming proactive and making good decisions for themselves. Fortunately, there is a step-by-step strategy that will bring clarity and satisfaction in making a decision, no matter how insignificant or how monumental the decision may be.
Before you begin, it is essential to be clear on your goal or results wanted and being able to clearly describe what the results will look like, sound like and be like – in other words, what is the evidence that will let you know you are being successful? Create a timeline for when you want to accomplish the goal or task, and consider who else might be involved. Be able to describe or give evidence of how your life will be different when the goal is achieved. These bigger benefits become part of your motivation strategy that will keep you going even if the going gets tough!
There are four major phases in any effective decision process – become a good detective and evaluator so that you are making clear decisions easily and quickly that bring you and your clients win-win results!
Information Gathering Phase: Be curious, open to learning, gather the facts about the decision you are wanting to make. Gather the criteria – what’s important about the goal? What, if any, are the limitations or restrictions in place? What are the choices or options available for reaching the goal? What will lead to long lasting solutions, now and in the future?
Evaluating Phase: Analyze the pros and cons of making the decision in relation to the goal or desired outcome. Make a list of the pros of making choice A, the cons of making choice A, and if you do not choose choice A – what other options are there for achieving the goal? When another option is considered (choice B) then elicit the pros and cons of that option as well.
In the beginning, if possible, create at least three options for optimum solution. If a person only has one choice they can be “stuck”; two choices can create a dilemma; so, having at least three choices leads to generative thinking. Consider what other aspects of your life will be affected by the choice you make.
Making Your “Best Guess” Phase: What appear to be the best options that will lead to the results wanted? Compare options in close proximity to each other in order to calibrate for the best choice, for example: Option 1 is better than option 2; Option 5 is better that option 2; and so on until you create a hierarchy of importance.
Have a personal strategy in place for “How do you know you know”? “How are you convinced you made the right choice?” “Is it a feeling in your body?” “Is it a voice in your inner mind?” “Does someone else have to tell you?” (not recommended)
Ask yourself these three categories of success questions:
1. “What’s the best thing that could happen?” This is a motivator.
2. “What’s the worst thing that could happen and how would I handle that?” This is intended to keep you safe.
3. “What’s most likely to happen?” This gives you a general percentage of what to It is important to always balance Risk vs. Reward.
If the risk is greater than the anticipated benefit, the answer is NO, not a good decision for reaching the goal!
Creating an Action Plan Phase: Now imagine the dream or goal becoming exactly what you wanted, step into the imaginary image; check it out and take an inventory of what is there and what had to happen to make sure it is just the way you want it to be. Now you can create an action for you to take in order to have your decision manifest into success. This Action Plan will give you a step-by-step pathway to follow toward achieving the results or goal. Along the way there is constant Feedback on the action just taken. Then you Adjust what is needed for the next step of the Action Plan, then devise a “Feed Forward” image to keep you on target to success.
As you can see, in making any decision, once a person steps into action there are multiple mini-decisions to be made as evidence is revealed. Remember, the element within a system having the most flexibility has the highest level of choice and influence of on the system. By understanding the structure of the decision making process, you can use your flexibility and awareness to achieve your outcomes and goals for yourself and for your clients!
Marilyn and Al Sargent are international trainers and creators of the field of Cognitive Emotional Re-Alignment with Hemispheric Integration™, a user’s guide for your brain and how to RePower Your Life!, relieve suffering and get the results you want. They have a passion for teaching people how to communicate effectively by understanding how the brain “thinks.”
As a coach, Marilyn specializes in the Sargent’s Natural Grief process, Healthy Relationships, Phobia / Anxiety Release, Learning Strategies, Personal and Executive Coaching, and Spencer Institute’s Certified Life Strategies Coach training.
Al’s book, The Other Mind’s Eye: The Gateway to the Hidden Treasures of Your Mind gives people the tools to discover the essence of their true self; to clear the clutter of the mind and live in the harmony of balance. His latest work is Moving Through Grief with Grace and Dignity, the Way Nature Intended, a book about living life in balance.
Marilyn and Al are featured in the movie The Compass, a story about a traveler’s journey and life lessons. They on the faculty of Wexford University offering online degree programs in Sports Psychology, Fitness and Nutrition. They are also the instructors for the Spencer Institute’s Life Strategies Coaching Certification.
Contact information:
Personal Coaching Appointments
Grief Resolution
Corporate Consulting and Executive Coaching
Speaking Engagements
Success Design International
310-729-5664
www.nlpla.com
mail@nlpla.com
