Tag Archives: reasoned approach

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Making Decisions

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Typically the best decisions are based on a thorough review and analysis.  (Although this is not universally so, luck and good guessing do play a role).

Accurate calculations based on the known data and clearly defined and reasoned assumptions enable a logical review and interpretation.

Keeping Track

While it is not feasible in every case to document all the reasons for proceeding a certain way (that is how the conclusion or resolution was arrived at), it is worthwhile to track the rationale including the options considered to the greatest extent possible.

The process itself of capturing what the key considerations are together with pros and cons aids in the quality of the overall analysis.

Taking the time to write down your thoughts can drive your thinking processes down a logical path.  Relying on your thoughts of the moment can reduce the level of focus and thus you may overlook a key element.

Eye on the Past and the Future

Often when making decisions we focus on the present.  The question we ask typically starts with “What will happen if I do this now?”  Good decisions include reference and consideration to both the past and the future.

Consider past results of similar decisions if you have any archival information focusing on the analytical calculations of the pertinent facts and how they ultimately related to the outcomes.

This approach helps you avoid past mistakes.  On the opposite end of the spectrum, it is wise to give consideration (based on assumptions) to what the future holds and how it will impact your decision.

While our decisions are usually focused on the current state keeping them in the context of both past and present often proves to be of good value.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Managing Emotion

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One of the most forceful influences on human behaviour is emotion. Emotions are both natural and instinctive.  They are a state of mind derived from one’s circumstances.

Our interractions  with others or things that happen or we think will happen define our mood.  Happiness, sadness, fear, anxiety, anger are just a few examples of the pelthora of English words we use to describe our mood setting emotions.

Regretting your Behaviour

Most often,  the behaviours we regret most are those which arise from strong emotional moods.  A key attribute of emotions is the way they shut down the logical thinking centers of the brain.

This makes it harder to make a good decision because the analytic functions are shut down.  Often the focus of the emotions, (anger, hurt, humiliation etc) result in very focused behaviour, not focused on the root cause but rather on resolving the emotion.

Reasoned analysis enables a weighing of benefits while balanced against negative consequences of your actions.  This is likely to reduce the risk of you having regrets later.

Managing your emotions

For each of us, the techniques best used to allow emotions to subside before responding are unique.  That is ever individual needs to customize their appoach to holding a resonse to circumstaces until it can be a reasoned one.

The commonalities for everyone is to first recognize your emotional state, second deal with your emotions yourself, third consider a reasoned response and finally, act.