Decision-Making 101: Using 10-10-10 to Help Define Your Options

There are probably a dozen different ways that people go about making decisions - good or otherwise. One that immediately comes to mind is to create a list of the pros and cons and decide from there. Or, some people ask all of their friends and family members to give input before they decide.

In a recent book from Suzy Welch, titled 10-10-10: A Life-Transforming Idea, she suggests that before making a decision, you should think about the consequences of each choice in the next 10 minutes, 10 months and 10 years.

Ask most experts, and they're likely to agree with Welch about considering the consequences of each decision you make. And, even after you've done so, somewhere down the road you might find that you wish you had made a different choice. However, confronted with the need to make an immediate decision, it's important to have a plan of how to move from indecision to the right decision at the time.

Consider the Consequences

According to Welch, "Every ‘10-10-10' process starts with a question. That is, every 10-10-10 begins with posing your dilemma, crisis or problem in the form of a query." Once you've asked yourself the proverbial "should I or shouldn't I?," the next step is to collect information about your options and determine what the consequences of each will be in 10 minutes, 10 months and 10 years.

The final step is analysis. That means taking all of the information and comparing it "to your innermost values - your beliefs, goals, dreams and needs," Welch says. "In short, this part of 10-10-10 impels you to ask: "Knowing what I now know about all of my options and their consequences, which decision will best help me to create a life of my own making?"

Remember the old saying, "Let your conscience be your guide?" Now is the time to dig deep and consider how your decision fits with your core values.

Don't Rush into Anything

One of the most important aspects of decision-making is to take the time to think your decision through. While you don't want to procrastinate - in fact, sometimes, you have to make decisions on the fly - it's important to take sufficient time to consider all of your options.

If you have the benefit of good friends and family or know experts who might lend their input regarding your current dilemma, ask those with experience when possible. Keep in mind that even though you're seeking counsel from others, ultimately, it will be your decision and responsibility. And, speaking of others, your decision may affect other people. So, as you consider all of your options, think about how they will impact those around you. This may mean your immediate relationships, as well as those yet to be developed.

Your ability to make good decisions in your life, as well as in your career, will improve as you learn to assess the available information and weigh it against what is most important to you. And, once you're able to find the right balance, you will discover that you can make better decisions.