Decision-making

I’ve been away, hence the lack of posts. But there’s nothing like a Seth pearl of wisdom to reinvigorate my blogging. His recent post on making decisions quickly is spookily mindful of the book I’ve just read (at the poolside). The Decisive Moment by Jonah Lehrer describes how, in certain situations, it’s better to decide quickly*. Strangely, these situations are often the high value ones with multiple criteria to consider.

That’s what Seth alludes to – making decisions that otherwise stop you from acting are high value (to your career, business, etc).

Lehrer says that decisions involving many data points actually confuse decision makers, so they focus on relatively unimportant issues. Like cup holders in cars, rather than mpg or emissions. That extra bedroom in a new prpoerty, rather than the hour-long commute (been there, done that…).

What Lehrer also says, however, is that there are decisions where knowledge, expertise and analysis is required.

The trick is knowing when to use what approach.

*The front cover has a raised plastic button with the words “Don’t Press” on it. Everybody presses. Why is this?