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| | Home | Coaching | Products | Retreats | Programs | Newsletters | | Resources | FAQ | Testimonials | About Helen | Contact Helen | Copyright © 2005 - 2008 Better Than Ever Coaching. All rights reserved. Address: P.O. Box 391, Brewster, MA 02631 Telephone: (508) 896-5779 Click here to Contact Helen |
Newsletters - March 2008
| Better Than Ever Coaching |
*****************************************************
What Could Be Better?
Written by:
Helen F. Kosinski, ACC, MBA - Professional Coach
March 2008: Volume 3, Issue 3 / ISSN # 1935-4827
*****************************************************
This Month: Analysis Paralysis
- Feature Article
- What's Next for You?
- Resources
- What Do YOU Think?
*****************************************************
Hi,
Spring’s here! I hope Mother Nature has been informed.
Maybe she’ll decide to go easy on us and March will go out
like a lamb. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Speaking of decisions, that’s what this month’s feature article is about.
Do you like to make decisions? Many of us, myself included, find that
making decisions can cause a lot of undue stress and anxiousness.
If that describes you, read on for a number of tips that can assist you in
making decisions, both big and small.
Have a Better Than Ever month!
All my best,
Helen
*************************************************************
Feature Article: Analysis Paralysis
*************************************************************
I recently read on Yahoo! that Barack Obama would NOT consider
being Hillary Clinton’s VP. He said that the country had to make a
decision. I thought that was a very powerful statement and really says a
lot about the state of the United States.
Have you noticed that people don’t like to make decisions…even for
something as simple as where to go to dinner? Are you one of them? I
know that there have been plenty of times where I have fallen into this
category…
What is it about making a decision that strikes fear into our hearts? Is
it about being wrong? Or, maybe it’s because we think that once we
make a decision, we can’t change our minds. Or, maybe it’s because
we don’t have time to comprehend and absorb what the decision will
mean to us. I guess we think it’s better to not make a decision (which
by the way IS making a decision) or to have someone else make the
decision for us, so we can complain if we don’t like the outcome.
What can you do when you’re faced with having to make a decision?
Here are a few techniques that I’ve found helpful:
+ + Gather information + +
Arming yourself with useful information can be very helpful in making a
decision.
Be aware of "analysis paralysis" – thinking you have to keep
researching until you get ALL of the information. This can become a
very convenient excuse for not deciding. It’s important to decide
(hmmmm, there’s that word again) what specific information you need
in order to make a decision. For example, I recently was looking to
purchase some software. I had looked at a number of different
products and I was still on the fence. Back to the web I went. I
searched and I searched… Finally, I decided that was enough! BUT I
still wasn’t sure. I came up with a couple of questions that I wanted to
ask the ‘top’ company. I sent them off an e-mail, got their response
and decided to make the purchase. I’d love to tell you that it’s been a
smooth install, but it hasn’t. I have to be honest with you. Gathering
any more information would NOT have made any difference in this
particular decision. I’m glad that I finally made a decision, even if I’m
still working through the outcome.
+ + Create a pros and cons list + +
This technique has been around forever. As a teenager, I remember
my mother always telling me to write down the ‘pros and cons’…
It’s easy to create and it can give you clarity about a specific decision.
All you need to do is get a piece of blank paper and fold it down the
middle. Label the left hand column ‘Pros’ and the right hand column
‘Cons’. Then just do a brain dump. Write down the reasons you want
to do whatever you’re considering under the ‘Pros’ and the reasons you
do NOT want to do whatever you’re thinking under the ‘Cons’. When
you’re done, you have a good summary.
Again, keep an eye out for "analysis paralysis". You could keep this
list going for years, if you wanted to! It’s a good idea to set a time limit
on this process.
+ + Figure out the impact: 10-10-10 + +
Making a decision can be easy, but figuring out the impact of the
decision can be more difficult. I first read about this technique in Oprah’
s magazine (refer to the Resources section of this newsletter for the
actual article). Suzy Welch described how she makes decisions by
looking at the impact the decision will have in 10 minutes, 10 months
and 10 years.
So, if you’re deciding where to go to dinner – the impact within the next
10 minutes is important, but this one decision probably won’t be
remembered in 10 months and even less likely to be remembered in
10 years! With that in mind, you probably don’t need to take a huge
amount of time to make this particular decision.
However, if you’re thinking about making a career change the
responses could be something like:
A decision of this magnitude definitely takes time to make, but this
technique helps you to be more aware of the impact down the road.
+ + Reflect: What’s the worst/best thing that can happen? + +
These can be very potent questions, when faced with a decision.
Again, if it is a simple decision, hopefully, the worst and best things that
can happen will not be life changing. However, the responses to these
questions for big decisions can provide some insights that you may not
have previously considered.
+ + Trust your gut + +
This is another technique that has been around forever, but it is often
forgotten or overlooked. When faced with a difficult decision, it can be
very helpful to "consult" your instincts.
Find a place that is quiet. Sit comfortably and take a few deep breaths.
Then, think about the decision that you are facing. For example, when I
was considering changing careers, I was looking at the possibility of
working as an internal coach for the company I worked for at the time. I
had heard about a person within the organization that was a Coach. I
couldn’t decide if I should get in touch with him or not. When I took
some quiet time to consult my intuition, I was surprised by the clues my
body gave me – my palms started to sweat, my heart started to race
and my gut tied up in a knot! I decided that contacting this person was
not an avenue that I wanted to pursue at that time.
I hope that by using one or more of the techniques listed above you will
conquer your indecisiveness about your upcoming decisions.
*************************************************************
What's Next for You?
*************************************************************
Would you like to share how your decision making process haschanged with our readers? Or do you have a great decision making
technique that you’d like us to know about?
Please send an e-mail tomailto:Helen@BetterThanEverCoaching.com
with a brief description and I’ll include it in a future issue of ‘What Could
Be Better’. Please let me know if you’d like to remain anonymous.
*************************************************************
Resources
*************************************************************
-- Articles --
How to Make Better Decisions by Joe Love
http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Make-Better-Decisions&id=81168
Making Decisions - Specifying Decision Criteria by Kevin Moriarity
http://ezinearticles.com/?Making-Decisions---Specifying-Decision-
Criteria&id=910918
The Rule of 10-10-10 by Suzy Welch
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-20825549_ITM
Taking the Indecision Out of Making Decisions! by Leslie Peterson
http://ezinearticles.com/?Taking-The-Indecision-Out-Of-Making-
Decisions!-3-Tools-To-Help-You-Do-Just-That&id=1020021
-- Books --
Harvard Business Review on Decision Making by Peter Ferdinand
Drucker, John Hammond, Ralph Keeney, Howard Raiffa and Alden M.
Hayashi
Smart Choices: A Practical Guide to Making Better Decisions by John S.
Hammond, Ralph L. Keeney and Howard Raiffa
Trust Your Gut by Lynn A. Robinson
Wharton on Making Decisions by Stephen J. Hoch and Howard C.
Kunreuther
-- Websites --
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/main/newMN_TED.htm
Decision Making Techniques and Decision Making Skills from Mind
Tools
http://www.managementhelp.org/prsn_prd/decision.htm
Decision Making from Free Management Library
http://www.decisionmaking.org/
Decision Making from Decision Making Headquarters
Note: Mention of any of the above resources does not
indicate endorsement.
*************************************************************
What Do YOU Think?
*************************************************************
Some decisions can be perceived as being selfish or self-serving.
Others can be perceived as a decision that is made for the greater
good of the community. And, still other decisions are able to satisfy
both the individual AND the community.
At the beginning of this month’s feature article, I noted that I had
recently read that Barack Obama would NOT consider being Hillary
Clinton’s VP.
What do YOU think about this decision? Do you think that Obama’s
statement serves just him, his party, or the country? Please send an e-
mail to mailto:Helen@BetterThanEverCoaching.com with your thoughts
and I’ll include them in a future issue of ‘What Could Be Better’. Please
let me know if you’d like to remain anonymous.
*************************************************************
Decision making can be very stressful and complicated. Did you
know that working with a coach to move through your complex
decisions is a fabulous way to make great strides in your life?
Would you like to learn more? Please send me an e-mail
(mailto:Helen@BetterThanEverCoaching.com) to set up a 30 minute
complimentary telephone meeting.
Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter. It is published
every month, except for a combined issue in November/December
and July/August. To cancel or change your subscription, please
refer to the link at the very bottom of this newsletter.
Do you know someone who would enjoy this newsletter? Please
send the entire issue intact and unaltered to them! Thank you!
To subscribe to this free newsletter, please send a blank e-mail
to mailto:Helen20-192607@autocontactor.com. When you receive
the confirmation e-mail, please follow the instructions to
complete your subscription. As a special Thank You for
subscribing, you will receive Three FREE Success Journal Secrets
to Creating a Better Life!
Your privacy is important to me. I do not give out or sell my
subscriber list to anyone.
Please send any questions, comments or insights to me at:
mailto:Helen@BetterThanEverCoaching.com or P.O. Box 391,
Brewster, MA 02631. Or you can give me a call toll-free at:
(888) 294-5779.
Be sure to visit my website at:
http://www.BetterThanEverCoaching.com for more information.
*************************************************************
Better Than Ever Coaching
Partnering with Professionals to
Confidently Navigate Change
*************************************************************
Copyright © 2008 Better Than Ever Coaching.
All rights reserved.
*************************************************************
What Could Be Better?
Written by:
Helen F. Kosinski, ACC, MBA - Professional Coach
March 2008: Volume 3, Issue 3 / ISSN # 1935-4827
*****************************************************
This Month: Analysis Paralysis
- Feature Article
- What's Next for You?
- Resources
- What Do YOU Think?
*****************************************************
Hi,
Spring’s here! I hope Mother Nature has been informed.
Maybe she’ll decide to go easy on us and March will go out
like a lamb. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Speaking of decisions, that’s what this month’s feature article is about.
Do you like to make decisions? Many of us, myself included, find that
making decisions can cause a lot of undue stress and anxiousness.
If that describes you, read on for a number of tips that can assist you in
making decisions, both big and small.
Have a Better Than Ever month!
All my best,
Helen
*************************************************************
Feature Article: Analysis Paralysis
*************************************************************
I recently read on Yahoo! that Barack Obama would NOT consider
being Hillary Clinton’s VP. He said that the country had to make a
decision. I thought that was a very powerful statement and really says a
lot about the state of the United States.
Have you noticed that people don’t like to make decisions…even for
something as simple as where to go to dinner? Are you one of them? I
know that there have been plenty of times where I have fallen into this
category…
What is it about making a decision that strikes fear into our hearts? Is
it about being wrong? Or, maybe it’s because we think that once we
make a decision, we can’t change our minds. Or, maybe it’s because
we don’t have time to comprehend and absorb what the decision will
mean to us. I guess we think it’s better to not make a decision (which
by the way IS making a decision) or to have someone else make the
decision for us, so we can complain if we don’t like the outcome.
What can you do when you’re faced with having to make a decision?
Here are a few techniques that I’ve found helpful:
+ + Gather information + +
Arming yourself with useful information can be very helpful in making a
decision.
Be aware of "analysis paralysis" – thinking you have to keep
researching until you get ALL of the information. This can become a
very convenient excuse for not deciding. It’s important to decide
(hmmmm, there’s that word again) what specific information you need
in order to make a decision. For example, I recently was looking to
purchase some software. I had looked at a number of different
products and I was still on the fence. Back to the web I went. I
searched and I searched… Finally, I decided that was enough! BUT I
still wasn’t sure. I came up with a couple of questions that I wanted to
ask the ‘top’ company. I sent them off an e-mail, got their response
and decided to make the purchase. I’d love to tell you that it’s been a
smooth install, but it hasn’t. I have to be honest with you. Gathering
any more information would NOT have made any difference in this
particular decision. I’m glad that I finally made a decision, even if I’m
still working through the outcome.
+ + Create a pros and cons list + +
This technique has been around forever. As a teenager, I remember
my mother always telling me to write down the ‘pros and cons’…
It’s easy to create and it can give you clarity about a specific decision.
All you need to do is get a piece of blank paper and fold it down the
middle. Label the left hand column ‘Pros’ and the right hand column
‘Cons’. Then just do a brain dump. Write down the reasons you want
to do whatever you’re considering under the ‘Pros’ and the reasons you
do NOT want to do whatever you’re thinking under the ‘Cons’. When
you’re done, you have a good summary.
Again, keep an eye out for "analysis paralysis". You could keep this
list going for years, if you wanted to! It’s a good idea to set a time limit
on this process.
+ + Figure out the impact: 10-10-10 + +
Making a decision can be easy, but figuring out the impact of the
decision can be more difficult. I first read about this technique in Oprah’
s magazine (refer to the Resources section of this newsletter for the
actual article). Suzy Welch described how she makes decisions by
looking at the impact the decision will have in 10 minutes, 10 months
and 10 years.
So, if you’re deciding where to go to dinner – the impact within the next
10 minutes is important, but this one decision probably won’t be
remembered in 10 months and even less likely to be remembered in
10 years! With that in mind, you probably don’t need to take a huge
amount of time to make this particular decision.
However, if you’re thinking about making a career change the
responses could be something like:
 | The 10 minute impact will be pure joy because you’ve gotten rid | |
| of a job you disliked. | ||
| The 10 month impact will be that you are making less money | |
| than a year ago. | ||
| The 10 year impact will be that you are doing work that is | |
| important to you and you are making a very comfortable living. |
A decision of this magnitude definitely takes time to make, but this
technique helps you to be more aware of the impact down the road.
+ + Reflect: What’s the worst/best thing that can happen? + +
These can be very potent questions, when faced with a decision.
Again, if it is a simple decision, hopefully, the worst and best things that
can happen will not be life changing. However, the responses to these
questions for big decisions can provide some insights that you may not
have previously considered.
+ + Trust your gut + +
This is another technique that has been around forever, but it is often
forgotten or overlooked. When faced with a difficult decision, it can be
very helpful to "consult" your instincts.
Find a place that is quiet. Sit comfortably and take a few deep breaths.
Then, think about the decision that you are facing. For example, when I
was considering changing careers, I was looking at the possibility of
working as an internal coach for the company I worked for at the time. I
had heard about a person within the organization that was a Coach. I
couldn’t decide if I should get in touch with him or not. When I took
some quiet time to consult my intuition, I was surprised by the clues my
body gave me – my palms started to sweat, my heart started to race
and my gut tied up in a knot! I decided that contacting this person was
not an avenue that I wanted to pursue at that time.
I hope that by using one or more of the techniques listed above you will
conquer your indecisiveness about your upcoming decisions.
*************************************************************
What's Next for You?
*************************************************************
| What decision have you been meaning to make? | |
| What steps are you willing to take to make this decision now? | |
| Is there a new decision making technique that you will | |
| experiment with to make this decision? | ||
| What is the desired outcome of this decision? | |
| What will you do to celebrate after you make this decision? |
Would you like to share how your decision making process has
technique that you’d like us to know about?
Please send an e-mail tomailto:Helen@BetterThanEverCoaching.com
with a brief description and I’ll include it in a future issue of ‘What Could
Be Better’. Please let me know if you’d like to remain anonymous.
*************************************************************
Resources
*************************************************************
-- Articles --
How to Make Better Decisions by Joe Love
http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Make-Better-Decisions&id=81168
Making Decisions - Specifying Decision Criteria by Kevin Moriarity
http://ezinearticles.com/?Making-Decisions---Specifying-Decision-
Criteria&id=910918
The Rule of 10-10-10 by Suzy Welch
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-20825549_ITM
Taking the Indecision Out of Making Decisions! by Leslie Peterson
http://ezinearticles.com/?Taking-The-Indecision-Out-Of-Making-
Decisions!-3-Tools-To-Help-You-Do-Just-That&id=1020021
-- Books --
Harvard Business Review on Decision Making by Peter Ferdinand
Drucker, John Hammond, Ralph Keeney, Howard Raiffa and Alden M.
Hayashi
Smart Choices: A Practical Guide to Making Better Decisions by John S.
Hammond, Ralph L. Keeney and Howard Raiffa
Trust Your Gut by Lynn A. Robinson
Wharton on Making Decisions by Stephen J. Hoch and Howard C.
Kunreuther
-- Websites --
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/main/newMN_TED.htm
Decision Making Techniques and Decision Making Skills from Mind
Tools
http://www.managementhelp.org/prsn_prd/decision.htm
Decision Making from Free Management Library
http://www.decisionmaking.org/
Decision Making from Decision Making Headquarters
Note: Mention of any of the above resources does not
indicate endorsement.
*************************************************************
What Do YOU Think?
*************************************************************
Some decisions can be perceived as being selfish or self-serving.
Others can be perceived as a decision that is made for the greater
good of the community. And, still other decisions are able to satisfy
both the individual AND the community.
At the beginning of this month’s feature article, I noted that I had
recently read that Barack Obama would NOT consider being Hillary
Clinton’s VP.
What do YOU think about this decision? Do you think that Obama’s
statement serves just him, his party, or the country? Please send an e-
mail to mailto:Helen@BetterThanEverCoaching.com with your thoughts
and I’ll include them in a future issue of ‘What Could Be Better’. Please
let me know if you’d like to remain anonymous.
*************************************************************
Decision making can be very stressful and complicated. Did you
know that working with a coach to move through your complex
decisions is a fabulous way to make great strides in your life?
Would you like to learn more? Please send me an e-mail
(mailto:Helen@BetterThanEverCoaching.com) to set up a 30 minute
complimentary telephone meeting.
Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter. It is published
every month, except for a combined issue in November/December
and July/August. To cancel or change your subscription, please
refer to the link at the very bottom of this newsletter.
Do you know someone who would enjoy this newsletter? Please
send the entire issue intact and unaltered to them! Thank you!
To subscribe to this free newsletter, please send a blank e-mail
to mailto:Helen20-192607@autocontactor.com. When you receive
the confirmation e-mail, please follow the instructions to
complete your subscription. As a special Thank You for
subscribing, you will receive Three FREE Success Journal Secrets
to Creating a Better Life!
Your privacy is important to me. I do not give out or sell my
subscriber list to anyone.
Please send any questions, comments or insights to me at:
mailto:Helen@BetterThanEverCoaching.com or P.O. Box 391,
Brewster, MA 02631. Or you can give me a call toll-free at:
(888) 294-5779.
Be sure to visit my website at:
http://www.BetterThanEverCoaching.com for more information.
*************************************************************
Better Than Ever Coaching
Partnering with Professionals to
Confidently Navigate Change
*************************************************************
Copyright © 2008 Better Than Ever Coaching.
All rights reserved.
*************************************************************
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