Decide Vol. 004 – Develop a decision-making framework that works for you

Making decisions can be a big problem for many of us, which is why it’s important to have a process that helps us.

Decision-making frameworks can be part of that process and in this volume of Decide, we are going to explore some.

Meet Steven

Let me share a story with you about a friend of mine, Steven.

Steven is a talented designer but he was unhappy at his job and decided it was time for a change. So he jumped onto Startup Jobs and applied for a few positions.

While reading the job descriptions he thought about two things, should he:

• stick it out at his current job, asking for change for all the things that made him unhappy – the grass isn’t always greener
• look for something completely different in a different industry

Fortunately, he received two offers but now he had the difficult task of deciding which job offer to take. One job was a remote position, and the other was in an office.

Too many options:

One of the big problems that many people face when making decisions is that there are often too many options, and it’s not always clear where to start or what to consider.

Steven actually had three decisions he needed to make:

1. to stay or leave
2. move to a different industry altogether or stay in the same industry
3. the remote or office job offer

All of these had their own unique advantages and disadvantages but before getting overwhelmed by all of the choices, Steven needed to focus on point one and decide whether to stay or go.

It’s not advisable to try and make all the decisions at once. Rather try to review the choices, triage them (order them in terms of which needs to be decided on first) and then, focus!

“There is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.”

Desmond Tutu

He decided to leave and work in the same industry so that left two decisions that needed to be made.

A choice needs to be made

Most people tend to solve this problem by considering the pros and cons of each option.

They might think about factors like salary, benefits, job responsibilities, and work environment.

This is exactly what Steven did. He spent hours weighing the pros and cons of each job.

Pros and Cons Framework

The pros and cons framework is a popular method for making decisions.

It involves listing all the potential advantages and disadvantages of each option and comparing them to each other. This is a simple and effective way to evaluate the different options.

Why might the Pros and Cons Framework not work?

While considering the pros and cons is important, it can also be overwhelming. Steven found himself getting more confused the more he thought about it. He realised that he was relying too much on external factors, and not enough on what he wanted.

You can read more about how to use the Pros and Cons Framework in Vol. 002.

The SWOT Analysis Framework

The SWOT analysis is a more detailed framework that involves evaluating the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of each option.

It is effective because it provides you will a comprehensive overview of everything at play in a positive and negative light.

This framework can help you identify the internal (strengths and weaknesses) and external (opportunities, and threats) factors that are most important to your decision-making process.

In Steven’s case, he could have used the SWOT analysis to evaluate the following factors:

Remote job offer:

• Strengths: More flexibility, ability to work from anywhere
• Weaknesses: Potential for communication issues, difficulty separating work and personal life
• Opportunities: Potential for better work-life balance, ability to work in a more comfortable environment
• Threats: Potential for lack of face-to-face interaction, the potential for isolation

Office job offer:

• Strengths: More face-to-face interaction, the potential for a more structured work environment
• Weaknesses: Less flexibility, longer commute
• Opportunities: Potential for a clear separation between work and personal life, potential for professional growth
• Threats: Potential for distractions, the potential for a less comfortable work environment

The Rubber Band Model:

This is a visual decision-making framework that involves comparing the current situation to the desired situation. You picture yourself in the middle of a field with stakes in the ground at opposite ends. Each stake has a rubber band that is stretched to its limit and wrapped around you. One band is holding you back and the other band is pulling you forward.

This can help you identify the gaps between where you are and where you want to be, and help you make a decision based on which option can help you close that gap.

In Steven’s case, he could have used the rubber band model to compare the two job offers to his ideal work situation. He might have asked himself questions like:

• Which job offer brings me closer to my ideal work situation?
• Which job offer has the most potential for professional and personal growth?
• Which job offer aligns with my values?
• What kind of work environment do I want?
• What does my perfect day look like?
• What perks are available?

What did Steven choose?

By using these decision-making frameworks, Steven had a better idea of what he was looking for in a job. He then compared his answers to the information he had gathered about each job offer and made an informed decision.

Steven chose the remote job as that aligned best with his values and goals. He realised that he was looking for a company with a strong culture of design, supportive mentors, and plenty of opportunities for growth.

By focusing on what was important to him, he was able to make a decision that he felt good about.

In conclusion:

• making decisions can be daunting, but by having go-to decision-making frameworks and processes, it can become much easier
• remember to ask yourself the important questions
• focus on what’s most important to you

Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday, and I’ll see you next week.

Ty

P.S. Say hey on Twitter and I would love to know your go-to decision-making framework, you can leave a comment here.