"50 percent of decisions taken by CEOs are made in less than 9 hours," says Sheena Iyengar, author of The Art of Choosing and Professor at the Columbia Business School. Life is all about decision making. "CEOs perform 139 tasks a week and each task comes with many sub choices. And, others make 17 decisions a day," she says in her TED Talk.
Choosing right is an important component of success. However, with an overload of choices, it can get a bit difficult some times. "Choice has made us not freer but more paralyzed, not happier but more dissatisfied," says psychologist Barry Schwartz. In a TED Talk, he talks about how even buying a pair of jeans leads to dissatisfaction. "I went into a showroom to buy a pair of jeans. And then the guy asked me if I want slim fit, easy fit or relaxed fit, stone washed or acid washed, he went on... My jaw dropped. Though I walked out with the best jeans ever, my expectations went up and I started thinking if my choice was right," he says.
Robert Frost's most famous quote also insists on the importance of making the right choice: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. So, here are four things you should remember while taking decisions.
Keep your values in mind : You have to go with your core values. When you go against them, you will only end up regretting. Even if it is a life-changing decision, follow your instinct more than anything.
Don't procrastinate: Taking the decisions at the right time is as important as the decisions per se. A decision delayed loses its value.
Don't choose when you are angry: While 'laughter is contagious' holds true, it is applicable for other emotions as well. Your anger can affect not only you, but the people in your life too. You will always regret the choices taken in anger.
Learn to have an opinion on varied subjects : It is very important to have an opinion to make a choice. If you are not well informed about most of the topics that are spoken about in your social circle or professional life, you will not be able to take the right decisions. You cannot hold conversations. If you are knowledgeable and up to date on the news or trends, you can have a handful of topics to speak with any kind of people, which will thereby help you take decisions better.
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