The 10-10-10-100
Decision Process
Tim Connor
Ever made a
decision that in hindsight you wish you hadn’t made or had made it
differently? Welcome to life. We all do this numerous times in life as the
future and the consequences of any decision are not a certainty.
No decision
whether a relationship, financial or career one comes with guarantees that they
will work out as we want, need or hope.
Please keep
in mind that just because you make a decision means nothing. What matters are the actions you take as a
result of a decision. But in this
article I want to focus on the decision process and not the actions you take or
their outcomes although both of these are critical when it comes to what
decision you ultimately make.
Decision - something that somebody chooses or
makes up his or her mind about, after considering it and other possible
choices.
What to consider when
making a decision
–
There are
numerous factors we consider when we choose to decide, things like – short or
long term consequences, the pain connected with dealing with these
consequences, fear of making the wrong decision, the impact of our decision on
others, making decisions when under stress – just to mention a few of the
common or obvious ones.
What should really
drive the decisions we make?
-Can you
live with the potential outcomes?
-Do you need
more or better information before making a decision?
-Is a
decision really the best tactic at the time?
-Do you have
the courage to make a decision and then follow-through?
-Do you
really have confidence in your decision?
-Are you
making the decision for the best reasons?
-Are there
other factors that are impacting our decision like; guilt, anger, regret,
arrogance, ego needs, other people’s control over us or uncertainty?
-Are you
making the decision based on pressure from others?
Why we decide the way
we do –
Everyone wants
favorable outcomes to their decisions unfortunately we can’t control all of the
factors involved in the unfolding of any decision. There will always be unknowns that we either
didn’t prepare for or anticipate. Any
decision comes with obstacles – some small and some major but in the end the
ability to ensure the best possible results requires the ability to manage the
obstacles and commit to the decision regardless of the roadblocks along the
way.
In the end
we decide what we hope, believe or feel are in our best interests. Yes, we may consider the impact on others but
most decisions are made for self serving reasons.
Why we avoid decisions
–
There’s an
old saying that says - failing to make a decision is a decision. How true. The major reason we avoid any
decision is the fear of unknown future circumstances as a result of our
decision and action. We want favorable
outcomes but since we can’t ensure these they may cause us to delay,
procrastinate or hope for the best without a decision.
The 10- 10 – 10 – 100
process –
This process
is simple – First 10 – what could happen within the next ten minutes as a
result of a decision? Second 10 – what could happen within the next ten
days? Third ten – what could happen
within the next ten months? And 100 –
one hundred years from now - what difference would any decision really make?
When you
have to decide – anything - consider this simple formula and then ask yourself
– can I handle whatever could take place within these time frames? If yes – go for it. If no – spend time in contemplation with the
elements above.
“When
it is not necessary to make a decision, it is necessary not to make a
decision.”
Lord Falkland
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