1. Solving Problems and Decision Making

2. A conscious or unconscious response to a problem or an issue.
A Decision Is:
A conscious or unconscious response to a problem or an issue.
Making up your mind about what to do or say.
Some are done without thinking.

3. Making Routine Decisions
Impulsive Decisions
Habit
Emulation
You do what most other people around you are doing.
Creativity
Default

4. Steps in Decision Making

5. Recognize the real problem and its importance to your life.
1. Define the Problem
Recognize the real problem and its importance to your life.

6. Review your long-term goals and what you want out of life.
2. Establish your goals
Review your long-term goals and what you want out of life.
Review your short-term goals you have set for yourself.
Establish new, additional goals related to the problem.

7. 3. Prioritize Your Goals List your goals in order of importance
Ones you want to accomplish most should be first
Your effort should go towards your major goals
Less important goals should be on a waiting list

8. 4. Look for Resources
Make a list of everything available to you that will help you reach your goals.

9. 5. Study the Alternatives
Make a list of all pros and cons to each alternative
Keep an open mind
Avoid letting personal prejudices become stumbling blocks
Ask yourself the following questions:

10. Would I want to keep this decision a secret from others?
Will this decision hurt anyone (including myself) either emotionally or physically?
Can this decision have a negative influence on my goals?

11. 6. Make a Decision
If you are objective, you will be happy with your decision
Decision making involves risks
You may make some errors or create some conflicts
If you follow the steps you will have good results

12. 7. Carry out the decision
After thinking through and making your decision, take action to carry it out.
Can be a difficult step, but it is important
Must make the effort to follow through

13. 8. Evaluate the results of your decision
Result of decision cannot be changed
You can benefit from past experience by using it in your future decision
Learn from mistakes as well as from your successes