Different types of decision making are needed - decision making is not always logical.
Often your right brain thinking creativity will be necessary.
How?

Seven different right brain thinking types of decision making are explained on this page which also illustrates the contrast between right brain left brain thinking. Decision making is an essential part of problem solving.

A systematic left side of brain method is described on a separate page.

Types of decision making - here’s the right brain method:

This approach will involve you in using your intuition, “gut feelings”, and unconscious mind.

For example, listed below are 7 decision making options that you may choose to use:

1. incubation.

That is, let your unconscious mind mull over the objectives to be achieved (you may need to define what these are, of course), the decision that is needed, and the range of possible choices.

This works well when on your way into sleep you ask your unconscious mind to mull and give you an answer in the morning.

You may have to stop your conscious mind from interfering by having it do something completely different (eg sleep, play sport, listen to music)

2. BRAINSTORMING.

This works best with a group (preferably with different thinking preferences to you), but you can brainstorm on your own.

It involves spontaneous thinking about possible ways to achieve something with no constraints on thinking - anything goes

3. an unusual perspective.

Of the types of decision making this one involves considering decision making from a totally different point of view.

For example, how would this look to a man from mars? or in 10 years time? or to the cat?

The aim is to shift and stimulate your thinking and initiative

4. VISUALISATION.

Imagine your objectives as having already been achieved and think backwards from there.

For example, ask what decisions were needed to turn this vision of success into delivered action?

Conversely, you could visualise your worst nightmare, your worst case scenario. then ask, what decisions led to this vision of undesirable outcomes?

Some people describe themselves as not being visual thinkers. They think more with words than images or pictures.

However, some PRACTICE will make a real difference: will improve decision making and is fun.

5. a metaphor.

This types of decision making option includes imagining that your problem and its solution and the decisions needed are something else.

Let’s say you used a ship as a metaphor (you can use anything, of course, such as a car, an animal, an object, a system).

Now you think about what sort of ship your situation would be - would it be a submarine? or a liner? or a rowing boat? or a speedboat? or the starship Enterprise?

Whatever your choice, why?

What are the similarities between your situation and the ship of your choice?

What does this teach you about the decision you need to make?

6. an oracle.

This involves saying that the decision you need to make is, for example, on page 14 of today’s newspaper, second column, third paragraph, fourth sentence and fifth word.

Look it up and use it as stimulus to your thinking

7. chance.

If you are really stuck deciding between A or B, for example, or, if it really doesn’t matter which one you choose (the consequences will be the same), toss a coin and listen to your reaction.

For example, if the coin comes down in favour of A and you find yourself saying something like, “let’s make it best out of three”, choose B.


As you can see, these right brained techniques are very different types of decision making compared to the systematic left brained method.

At first reading they may seem a bit strange or even stupid.

But, especially if you are stuck and can’t make a decision, suspend your judgement and try some or all of these types of decision making.

What will it cost you other than some time and a little effort?

And, as an outcome, your decision making and initiative may improve and you will probably have a great sense of achievement if the resulting action works.

Seems like a good investment to me.


Decision making the right brain thinking way can be very creative. Contrast it to the LEFT BRAIN approach.

Use both left brain and right brain types of decision making
for the best results

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