Personal Responsibility and Decision Making The Moments of Truth Mr. Sherpinsky Council Rock School District Cooperative Education Program

In the lesson you will learn how to... Identify which decisions need to be made Make a well thought-out decision Learn what it means to take responsibility for actions (and inaction) Put your decisions into appropriate action

Decision Making How many times have you thought, or heard someone say, “I just can’t seem to make a decision?” We’ve all been guilty of asking this type of question.

Decision Making It can at times be challenging to fully think through the consequences of a decision. When confronted as a result of a bad decision, it is quite typical for some students to say, “I didn’t think it was a big deal” or “I wasn’t thinking.” Unfortunately, this practice of “not thinking” carries with it consequences, some of which are quite unpleasant.

Everyone Makes Dozens of Decisions Daily Don’t believe me Everyone Makes Dozens of Decisions Daily Don’t believe me? Then do me a favor; Think about all the decisions you have made today.

Decision Making continued... I’d guess you have 20 or so decisions… If it’s closer to the end of the day then the number is probably 3 times that, if not more.

I know what some of you are thinking, “20 decisions I know what some of you are thinking, “20 decisions?! I’ve only been able to think of 5 or 6!” If that’s the case, lets quickly review some decisions we all make in the morning.

So…for some of those decisions I made today… Had something to eat Put my jacket on Grabbed my umbrella Left for work

Oh…and let’s not forget about these things… Got a cup of coffee Put cream and sugar in the coffee Turned the lights on in my office Turned my computer on

And even more decisions… Checked my voicemail Checked my email Made a phone call Began working on this lesson

Decision Making Ok, so how many decision is that in about 2 hours? I counted 16. And make no mistake, they were all actual decisions just like you make every day of your life.

Decision Making Certainly some of the decisions we make are easier than others. The problem is that we don’t give ourselves enough credit for what we may consider to be “routine” decisions, and so we don’t think we can make a more “difficult” decision when we need to.

Decision Making The other problem is that because so many of the daily decisions we make are “easier” ones, we don’t even realize we are making them. We are not aware that it takes a decision to get us into the shower, dressed and ready for the day. But they’re all decisions. ALL OF THEM.

Then what?

In certain instances, simple decisions (as an example making the decision to hang out with friends) evolve into situations that are more complicated and difficult. Complications may come from peer pressure, wanting to impress others, or any other number of extenuating circumstances that may present themselves…

If all the decisions we needed to make were as simple as deciding to get out of bed and eat each day, life would be easy. This is not the case however, because most of the decisions that we face each day are more complicated and they require forethought and careful consideration prior to making them.

So…how should one go about making well thought through and intelligent decisions? There are 5 steps that are involved in intelligent decision making…

5 steps to making intelligent decisions… They are: We must first be confronted with a D.O. (Decision Opportunity) and think about what this opportunity means to us. Analyze what we do and do not have control over. Brainstorm likely outcomes for each decision? Make the decision. Put the decision into action.

Now, let’s break each of these steps down in detail...

THE FIRST STEP IN INTELLIGENT DECISION MAKING

The first step in decision making involves being confronted with a D.O. (decision opportunity) We must first be confronted with a D.O. (Decision Opportunity) and reflect on what this opportunity means to us. A Decision Opportunity is simply that - a chance for us to make a decision. During your day you may have to decide to go to class, to do your homework, to attend your assistantship, etc.

Decision Making On the weekends the decisions you are faced with are probably different. An example decision could deal with figuring out whether you’ll go out or not? It seems pretty simple but then it gets a little more complicated…

From simple to complicated, it all involves a D. O From simple to complicated, it all involves a D.O. (Decision Opportunity)

Decision Break-Down continued... Ultimately we are tuned in to WII-FM (What’s In It For Me?) It’s our job to first recognize that we have a genuine Decision Opportunity and to then decide what that opportunity means for us. It’s not just about saying yes or no, it’s about evaluating the positives and negatives of the decisions that we make.

So, after experiencing the decision opportunity, the next step is to analyze what we do and do not have control over.

THE SECOND STEP IN INTELLIGENT DECISION MAKING

The second step in decision making is to analyze what we do and do not have control over… Quickly realized that we do not have control over what others decided for us, i.e. our external locust of control. What we do have control of, however, is our internal locust of control, i.e. what we think, how we feel and subsequently how we chose to interpret what is happening to us and others.

Decision Break-Down continued... You have the same capability to decide how you are going to think, feel and react to a particular situation. Back to the decision about going out on the weekend…let’s say you decide to go to a party…

You don’t have a choice about who is going to be at a party, or what the party organizers are planning to do at the party…

You do however, have the capability of deciding to stay away from someone at the party you don’t like verses fighting with them, or walking away if they approach you, or leaving the party if you don’t like what’s going on at the party…

You also have the capability of analyzing the “good advice” you get from your friends from time to time, and evaluating whether the “good advice” really looks out for your best interest.

One of the bottom lines here is that you are ultimately in control of the decisions you make. And what does this mean?

It means that YOU are the one responsible for your actions and most actions have subsequent consequences.

As the adage goes, “99% of our life is not what happens to us, but how we react to what happens to us.”

THE THIRD STEP IN INTELLIGENT DECISION MAKING

The third step in decision making is to brainstorm the likely outcomes for each possible decision…... In terms of your personal circumstance, it is important for you to analyze potential outcomes of the decisions you make.

Every day we are faced with questions and decisions, and most times our decisions will not only affect us, but others as well. It’s imperative that we be patient with ourselves and not make hasty decisions that could lead to unpleasant outcomes.

Decision Break-Down continued... As you go about making decisions take the responsibility to do what is in your best interest and the best interests of others…particularly those that are closest to you.

THE FOURTH STEP IN INTELLIGENT DECISION MAKING

Step 4 involves making the decision... Now we’ve been confronted with a Decision Opportunity, we’ve analyzed what we do and do not have control over, and we’ve researched likely outcomes for each decision. Now it’s time to take a risk and actually make a decision.

THE FIFTH STEP IN INTELLIGENT DECISION MAKING

The 5th step in decision making involves putting the decision into action. A decision made that is not followed by action is an impassive idea, nothing more.

Many of the decisions that you will face, you will have alternatives Many of the decisions that you will face, you will have alternatives. If you intelligently analyze the alternatives and subsequent consequences of a decision, then you will make choices that are in your best interest.

The bottom line here is that you’ll either make decisions and take responsibility for the outcomes, or you won’t. There is no “gray” area here. Are you helping others or not? Are you making a difference or not?

Are you taking action….or not?

There are times when you consciously choose not to make decisions There are times when you consciously choose not to make decisions? Understand that it’s never “I can’t make a decision.” Instead it may be, “I DON’T WANT TO make a decision.”

Decision Break-Down continued... We may choose not to make a decision because if things go awry it’s “safer” to say, “I didn’t make that decision. You can’t blame me.” It’s unfortunate, but SAFER doesn’t always equal BETTER!!!!

A Quick Review: The things we’ve covered on decision making… 1. We must first be confronted with a D.O. (Decision opportunity) and reflect on what this opportunity means to us. 2. Analyze what we do and do not have control over. 3. Brainstorm likely outcomes for each decision? 4. Make the decision. 5. Put the decision into action.