At a time when we are offered more choices than ever before, choosing a product or deciding on a service – or even making a major life decision – can seem like an overwhelming task. Here are some tried-and-true strategies for evaluating your choices, allowing you to make decisions more effectively and discern which choice is best for you and your needs.
Define Your Criteria and Objectives
Outline Key Requirements
First, distil the options down to a few essential features or attributes that your decision must have, a few integral things in which you must ‘invest’. If you’re house-hunting, you probably want to specify the location, size and price range. Having a clear sense of your needs helps to cut through the noise of decision by not even considering options that don’t meet your core needs.
Set Clear Goals
Make your decision more specific by setting goals that relate to it. Goals tell you where you want to go, which helps to choose between options. Choosing a new job, for example, might involve goals such as career progression or work-life balance, and salary expectations. It’s also helpful to set goals for what you want to accomplish by the end of a day, a week, a month or a year, as a way of keeping your decisions on track.
Prioritize Factors
But not all of the criteria are created equal. You should sort the criteria by relevance to your goals. For example, if you are buying a car, safety and fuel efficiency may be much more important than the colour of your car. You should sort the factors by their relevance to your goals, and that way you can focus on what is most important.
Conduct Comprehensive Research
Gather Detailed Information
Collect as much information as possible about each of the options under consideration: the details of the product or service on offer, reviews of fellow users or readers, expert opinions and whatnot; this will form the basis of your weighing of the pros and cons.
Compare Alternatives
Create a ‘side-by-side’ comparison matrix to assess your options. A comparison matrix is a tool that helps you gauge how your options stand in relation to each other with respect to your chosen criteria. The clear-cut nature of this side-by-side format makes it easier to compare the various alternatives and pinpoint the one that offers the most attractive mix of features and benefits.
Seek Third-Party Opinions
Another source: third-party reviews or evaluations. Why rely on independent parties having separate expertise? Sometimes they aren’t swayed by the same positive or negative things that you yourself might notice. For example, if I bring a laptop to a Geek Squad, I am guaranteed to hear about the anti-glare screen and the keyboard that’s optimised for comfort and functionality. On the other hand, if I take the laptop to an Apple Genius Bar, I’m sure to be told that the associated ecosystem features and seamless integration of multiple devices will enhance my Apple experience. Another possible source: other people. A second opinion can be helpful because most of us aren’t very good at remaining impartial.
Assess Long-Term Implications
Evaluate Longevity and Maintenance
Think about longevity and upkeep. The longer it lasts and the less it needs adjusting, the better value in the long run. When buying electronics, for example, look at how durable the device is and what sort of support is offered.
Analyze Future Usability
Consider how the choice will serve you in the future. For example, if it’s a choice of software, will it meet future needs as technology changes? This will help you avoid new systems that are more expensive than those you’ve already purchased, or that will have to be replaced before they’ve depreciated and paid for themselves.
Estimate Total Cost
Move beyond first cost to TCO; this takes into account any ongoing maintenance costs, operational expenses, and eventual upgrades. Understanding the total financial commitment directs you toward something that is affordable and sustainable.
Factor in Practical Considerations
Consider Ease of Use
Consider how easy it is to use each one. The more intuitive an option is, the better your experience – and the shorter the learning curve. When you’re picking out a new appliance, for instance, design and user friendliness are paramount.
Evaluate Availability and Support
See whether the option is available and whether the service provider has good customer service. If it’s easy to access support, that can make a big difference in the experience. Think about the responsiveness of customer service and whether help is available in a way that you can handle.
Check Compatibility
Make sure that any option you select will be compatible with your existing systems or needs. Incompatibilities can result in extra costs or headaches. For example, when choosing new software, make sure it is compatible with your existing tools or systems.
Make a Decisive Choice
Reflect on Your Findings
Once you’ve gathered all the relevant information and weighed the alternatives, take some time. Step back and review the priorities, goals and research to see if your chosen option fits with your broader purposes.
Trust Your Decision-Making Process
Trust the process you went through and the information you gathered. Over-thinking it or second-guessing yourself can lead you to decision paralysis. Confidence in your decision-making process helps you commit to your decision, and get on with it.
Take Action
When you’ve made your choice, be sure to follow through. Buy the thing. Sign the contract. Switch the setting.
Conclusion
With such a variety of choices, we need a systematic approach to decision-making. By clearly defining your criteria and desired outcomes, doing your homework and research, and considering possible long-term consequences, logical considerations and practical requirements, you can pare down the possibilities and make a selection likely to meet your goals, preferences, needs and desires. By thinking things through and properly considering any decision, you can assure yourself that you will not be making a choice you will later regret.
