DECISION MAKING

Have you ever made a choice that resulted in a consequence that you did not want?. How do we decide
whether we should do something or not? How do you make a choice or a decision? If we want to
improve our consequences, we have to improve our decision-making strategies.

The Activity

A. It is recess. Everyone is out on the playing fields, including the teacher. You have to go the toilet.
On the way to the toilet, you pass your class and notice that there is someone in the room. You
stop and peek in out of curiosity. Just as you do, you see one of your best friends reach into
another person’s desk and take something out of it. You quickly move past the door before you
are seen. Just before the lunch bell rings, the students whose desk you saw your friend reach
into, walks up to the teacher. A moment later the teacher announces that this student’s entire
pencil case with pencils, pens and lunch money in it has been stolen. What do you do? Using the
Decision Wheel as a guide, discuss the following questions with your students and scribe their
answers on the board.

B. You are alone with your best friend at your best friend’s house. He/she goes to a drawer in
his/her wardrobe and pulls out a pack of cigarettes. He/she lights up and invites you to do the
same. What do you do?

Use the Decision Wheels to record the answers to each question.

1. What is the problem?
2. What are the choices you have?
3. What do you think the consequences of these choices will be for yourself and others who are
involved?
4. What values do you need to consider?
5. How do you feel about the situation?
6. Is there anything else you need to learn about it?
7. Do you need to ask for help? Who will you ask?
8. What is your decision?
9. Do you think you made the right decision? Why?

ASSESSING STUDENT UNDERSTANDING OF DECISION MAKING

• Write about a personal decision you have had to make.
• What would you do differently now that you have learned how to make careful decisions?
• What did you do well?
• Think about a decision you are facing right now.

Use the thinking map and graphic organizer to help you through with the decision making process.
Teaching Decision Making: The Importance of Good Decisions

There is a tremendous need for good decision makers in today’s world. People are needed who have the
ability to make decisions quickly and responsibly. This is why it is so important for you to teach good
decision making skills to your students. In order to do this, your students must understand the importance
of decision making.

While everyone has to make decisions, it is amazing how little is known about how to make a good
decision. Most decisions are made without any idea of the decision-making principles covered in this unit.
It is estimated that about one-half of the decisions made in business are incorrect. With better decision-
making skills, the percentage of correct decisions would undoubtedly rise.

Here are the five topics we will cover in this section to teach the importance of good decisions:

1. Problem solving vs. decision making

2. Characteristics of good decision makers
3. The three most important criteria for good decision making
4. Brings value
5. Move forward without worry

Problem solving vs. decision making

First, your students should understand that problem solving and decision making are two separate things.
Problem solving means being forced to make a decision because of conditions beyond your control.
Decision making means choosing to make a decision because you wish for something to occur that is not
occurring at the present time. Decision making occurs because you want something to happen, while
problem solving occurs when a problem arises.

Characteristics of good decision makers

The best decision makers are people who can combine logic, problem analysis, and intuition to come up
with the correct decision. Teach your students these additional characteristics that most good decision
makers have in common:

 Being a good listener. Good decision makers must be able to hear and take into account other
people’s opinions when making decisions.
 Having a clear set of priorities. As we will discuss later on in this unit, decision makers must know
their priorities or values in order to choose a good or “correct” path.
 Having an open mind. Good decision makers are open to other people’s views and ways of
thinking rather than being stuck in one way of doing things.
 Being flexible and willing to change. A good decision maker is open to new or alternative ways of
doing things that may work out better in the end.
 Being realistic. Good decision makers understand the realistic outcomes to which different paths
will lead.

The three most important criteria for good decision making

The three most important criteria for good decision making are values, experience and common sense:

1. Values-What your students value determines their behavior. Their beliefs produce attitudes,
attitudes produce feelings and feelings lead to behavior.
2. Experience– We all learn to make decisions through experience. Time will tell if a decision is
good or bad.
3. Common sense- Common sense, or what you know, is a key component in choosing one path
versus another. Use what you know to help you make the best decision.

Brings value
Good decision making is an essential skill. There is a tremendous need for good decision makers in
today’s world. When your students improve their decision-making skills, they will increase their value in
their future jobs, families and communities.

Move forward without worry

Decision making involves making choices. Many people are afraid to make decisions because they may
make a wrong one. Good decision making does not depend on educational background as much as
common sense. Teach your students that common sense, general knowledge, and their value systems
are the most important criteria for good decision making.

We hope you enjoyed our post on the importance of good decision making. If you would like to learn more
about teaching success skills to your students, sign up for a free soft skills webinar here.

Source: https://www.conovercompany.com/teaching-decision-making-the-importance-of-good-
decisions/