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JIMINY SELF-HELP HANDBOOK 9

important and urgent decisions that need attention. However, we should not delay the decision until
it becomes urgent.

b) Urgent, but not important: When a decision is not important, there is no need to overanalyze it. In
some outrageous cases the cost of the time spent analyzing a decision can exceed the cost of making
a wrong decision. These types of decisions can be easily made, either by following our “gut” as
experienced businesspersons or by using standard guidelines and principles aligned with the values of
the organization (or both).

c) Both urgent and important: Left unaddressed, many decisions may morph into this category and
we should not let it happen. However, we should beware of false urgency. Many decisions that are
portrayed as urgent aren’t. Therefore, we should not be pressed into making an important decision
without careful consideration when we don’t have to. A good idea is to consider whether we can take
steps to buy more time to make this important decision. Keeping options open that will allow us
flexibility later and consulting experts can both lead us into the right direction to proceed.

d) Important but not urgent: Solving complex problems requires asking a series of questions that most
of the times are relatively easy to answer. When facing a big decision, we should not overcome by
emotions. What we need to figure out is “What do I want to happen next?” and “What do I have to do
to maximize the probability that it occurs?”. For decisions that are important but not urgent, it is
sometimes helpful to use decision-making tools (e.g. marginal analysis, SWOT analysis/Strengths-
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Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats, Decision Matrix etc. ) or seeking the counsel of experts. Last but
not least, “live with your decision before executing” -make a decision and sleep on it before
implementing.

What Kind of Decision-Maker Are You?
Like many other skills a person needs to succeed in his/her goals, being decisive is a skill that can (and
should) be practiced and strengthened every day, starting even with the tiniest decisions. Many studies
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have shown that people are tending to regret mostly for things that they didn't do . Hence, it seems
that somewhere in each of us lies the desire to make a decision and act, for fear that we will regret not
doing so. The studies have also shown that if we are making a decision and acting according to it, but
in the end failing, we accept it better than if we didn't try at all, maybe because we know that at least
we tried.

Regarding various aspects in our daily life, in order not to find ourselves regretting, we must make
informed decisions and act accordingly. Besides, indecision is one of the greatest causes of business
failure. However not everyone makes decisions in the same way, nor should they. Being aware of our
own decision-making process and type is the first step to see things from a different point of view and
maybe start making decisions differently. Here are the most common types of decision makers:

 Fast: Makes decisions quickly, without too much thinking and factor analysis.
 Procrastinator: Avoids the decision making to the last possible moment.

11 iDashboards, “4 Tools & Strategies for Enhanced Decision-Making”, available online,
https://www.idashboards.com/blog/2019/04/10/4-tools-strategies-for-enhanced-decision-making
12 Zamler, Galit. (2020), “The Ability to Take Calculated Risks”, Entrepreneurship for Kids™, available online
https://www.tomorrowsuccess.com/calculatedrisks.html