How do you experiment with new decision-making approaches?

1 Identify your current style

Before you try something new, you need to understand your current decision-making style. How do you gather information, weigh options, and make choices? What are your strengths and weaknesses, and what are the common biases and pitfalls you face? You can use self-assessment tools, feedback from others, or journaling to get a clearer picture of your style and its impact.

2 Learn from others

One of the best ways to experiment with new decision-making approaches is to learn from others who have different styles and perspectives. You can seek out mentors, peers, or experts who can share their insights, methods, and experiences with you. You can also read books, articles, or podcasts that expose you to different frameworks, models, and tools for decision-making.

3 Try small and safe experiments

Once you have some ideas for new decision-making approaches, you need to test them out in practice. However, you don't want to risk making major mistakes or damaging your reputation by using an unfamiliar method. Therefore, you should start with small and safe experiments, where the stakes are low and the consequences are manageable. For example, you can use a new approach for a personal decision, a minor project, or a hypothetical scenario.

4 Reflect and evaluate

After you try a new decision-making approach, you need to reflect and evaluate the outcome. Did the approach help you make a better decision, or did it cause any problems or confusion? What did you learn from the process, and what can you improve or change for next time? You can use feedback from others, data, or your own intuition to assess the results and the lessons.

5 Adapt and adjust

Based on your reflection and evaluation, you need to adapt and adjust your decision-making approach for different situations and goals. You may find that some approaches work better for certain types of decisions, or that you need to combine or modify them to suit your needs and preferences. You may also find that some approaches are not suitable or effective for you, and that you need to discard or replace them.

6 Keep learning and experimenting

The final tip for experimenting with new decision-making approaches is to keep learning and experimenting. Decision-making is not a static or fixed skill, but a dynamic and evolving one. You need to constantly challenge yourself, seek feedback, and explore new possibilities to improve your decision-making agility and creativity. You also need to be open-minded, curious, and flexible to adapt to changing circumstances and opportunities.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?