|
Copyright
© 1998 Head Injury Hotline
Decision Making
Skills
|
Perfecting Your Decision Making Skills
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Good decision making
skills are important to the success of self-management. The prospect of
taking on responsibility for your self-management may seem unsafe and frightening
to you especially if you are unaccustomed to taking charge of your life.
Training in assertiveness techniques, and goals identification could help
build your confidence in such matters. Once you have mastered such techniques
you will be able to make sound decisions in matters that effect you, such
as your medical and rehabilitation treatment, and other quality of life
issues. The Problem Definition Chart, below,
presents a set of sound guidelines for you to follow which will reinforce
your ability to make sensible and safe decisions. |
|
|
|
|
|
Important note. Avoid making decisions
when you are tired, hungry, or under stress or pressure of any sort. On
such occasions, your ability to make sound decisions might be compromised
by such overlaying factors. It is better to take more time to arrive at
a decision than to live with the consequences of an ill-advised one. Set
a realistic time line for your response and stick to it; or if necessary,
renegotiate it. Bottom line, do not allow yourself to be rushed into
a decision that you are not prepared to make. Then as usual, before you
make your decision, collect and refine essential information concerning
the decision or options before you act.
To assess
your style of problem solving go to the Problem
Solving Inventory |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
What is the Question,
Issue, or Problem? |
 |
Yes |
No
|
 |
Define the Question,
Issue, or Problem. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Do You Have
Information you need
to make a decision? |
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Get the Information
You Need
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Do you know what
your options are? |
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Identify & Rank
Order Your
Options
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Have you faced and
made this same
decision before? |
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Weigh and Consider
your options
carefully
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Was your last
decision sound? |
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Reviewed and evaluate
what you did: Weigh
and consider your
options carefully
|
|
|
|
|
Make Your
Decision
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
