Making Intelligent Decisions

All of us are constantly required to make decisions and, of course, we want them to be right.  Here are a few guidelines that have worked for me that I have learned from life, from the scriptures, and from others who have been successful.  The recent reading of President George W. Bush’s book Decision Points has stimulated my recent thinking on this topic.  President Bush’s approach to decision making was strongly influenced by a book he read, Memoirs, by President Ulysses S. Grant, which book was recommended to him by more than one historian.  A few other ideas, or validation of my own ideas, came from a recent broadcast of a Leon Panetta Lecture Series roundtable discussion by a panel of former chiefs-of-staff of our four most recent presidents. 

•   Marshal the Facts.   Study the issue out in your mind.  For many, once they have got all the facts (or have spent a reasonable amount of time gathering them) and then have put them in good order, the problem usually solves itself.  I have heard that in the military, leaders are trained to draw up what is called an ‘Estimate of the Situation.’  The decision maker must know his objective and then consider alternative means of attaining that objective.  You then line up the pros and cons of each alternative as far as you can see them.  Get help in gathering data and seek out advice or counsel you can trust and consider it carefully.  Then sleep on it if you can.  In other words, give it some time.  Don’t just let a quick or shallow emotional response drive your decision.

•  Timing.  Many of our most important decisions should not be ‘made,’ but allowed to ripen.  Facts accumulate and feelings begin to distill upon us and begin to jell.  Again, where you can, give complicated situations a chance to work themselves out.  Let the problem stew in its own juice for a while. Consciously postponing a decision is not the same as indecision.  It will probably contribute to making a good decision.  Decide that you will decide when the time is right. 

•  Be Flexible.  President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “We have to do the best we know how at the moment.”  Sometimes that is true, but more often I think it is better to be flexible only within the parameters of established principles.  When we can’t take the time to follow the advice given in points 1 and 2, above, and we are still in doubt say ‘no.’  It’s a lot easier to change a no to a yes, than vice versa. 

• Consult your feelings.  ‘Your’ feelings may, indeed, be tempered by inspiration from your conscience and by ‘sudden strokes of ideas,’ or inspiration or revelation that come from outside yourself:  “Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter?  What greater witness can you have than from God?,” the Lord asked of an early Church leader.  We can usually tell when a decision accords with our better nature or by the good that which could come to that within the sphere of our influence by the enormous sense of relief that it brings.  When we have decided ‘against the grain,’ we often increase our mental tension.  Big decisions, correctly made, leave us exhilarated and charged with confidence. Big decisions, correctly made, usually come about by sincere prayer. 

• Finally, Make the Decision With Courage.  “One man with courage makes a majority,” said President Andrew Jackson.  President George W. Bush said, “You have to do what you believe is right and accept the consequences,” and “[on every major decision] I did what I believed was in the best interests of our country.”  But be sure to set out what you believe would be the consequences of the decision if it is right or if it is wrong.  I believe that is a key point.  Every decision we make should be made with most consideration being given to those beyond ourselves who will be impacted by that decision.  I believe we need never to make a really bad decision if we are guided by the Holy Spirit and are privileged to see the long view of how it will turn out in the end.