1. Direct Your Future™
Module 3:
Determining Your Direction

2. Module 3 Objectives At the end of this module, you will be able to:
Describe different kinds of decision-making strategies.
State the steps of a planful model of decision-making.
Apply the planful model to your career decision-making.
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3. Module 3
Definitions
Decision – selection of one alternative rather than another.
Alternative – different ways in which a problem may be solved, or a goal reached.
Goal – an event, condition, or outcome that we set for some future date.
Consequences – results, or outcomes, of making a decision.
Valuing – a process of examining alternatives.
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4. Module 3 Basic Principles
The outcomes of some decisions are more important than others.
When outcomes are important, use the Planful Decision- Making Model.
Using the Planful Decision-Making Model does not assure the outcomes you want, but increases your probability.
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5. Module 3 Other Decision-Making Approaches
Painful – spending a lot of time and energy finding alternatives and information, but not making a choice.
Impulsive – jumping to a choice without finding alternatives and information.
Compliant – making the choice that someone else wants you to make.
Delaying – putting off making a choice.
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6. Module 3 The Planful Decision-Making Model
Step 1: Identify the decision to be made.
Step 2: Consider characteristics of self.
Step 3: Identify alternatives.
Step 4: Collect information about each alternative.
Step 5: Put alternatives in priority order.
Step 6: Take action.
Step 7: Review the decision and possible outcomes.
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7. Module 3 Homework for Next Session
Write a one or two-page description of yourself from three different perspectives or viewpoints:
How your parent(s)/guardians see you.
How your friends see you.
How your teachers see you.
Using Activity 7: Connecting Life Roles, interview one of your parents or another adult about different life roles they play. You should complete the worksheet and bring it to the next session.
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