Decision making techniques the left brain systematic thinking way

Decision making techniques often require right brain vs left brain thinking. This page describes how to use left side of brain systematic thinking in 7 easy steps.

Right brain thinking approaches are described on a separate page.

Let's take a look at the systematic left brain approach which involves the following 7 steps:

1. the objectives of your decision need to be defined first

What do you need to achieve?

Why do you want to do this?

2. prioritise your objectives in order of importance

What matters most?

What matters least?

3. develop options to achieve the objectives

What alternatives do you have?

(this may require you to think outside the box, be creative with whole brain thinking, and use divergent thinking - see the right brain approach to making decisions. Click on the link near the bottom of the page to see the contrast between left vs right brain thinking)

4. evaluate each option against the prioritised objectives

Which of your alternatives will best achieve the objectives? (convergent thinking)

5. identify a tentative decision which best satisfies your objectives

Which option will you choose? (convergent thinking)

6. examine your tentative option for possible future adverse consequences

What will be the consequences (positive and negative) if you implement your tentative decision?

What do you need to do to avoid potential problems? This is a smart question in terms of problem solving, of course
(make modifications to avoid negative consequences, as necessary)

7. make the decision (including accountability, deadlines and review process)

Who will do what?

By when?

How will you know how you you're doing?


As you can see, in decision making techniques, this left brain approach is very disciplined.

As with problem solving, it’s a good idea to be quite rigorous in following the steps when you first work with this approach.

Using decision making techniques will lead to change, of course, once decisions are implemented. Click here for some inspiring change quotes that may be used to stimulate new thinking.

Decision making the left brain way is disciplined, structured and systematic.
Contrast this with the right brain thinking approach.
Use both for best results.

Decision making techniques that use left side of brain thinking is effective for "left brain" issues.........
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