Direct Your Future™ Module 3: Determining Your Direction

Module 3 Objectives At the end of this module, you will be able to: Describe different kinds of decision-making strategies. State the steps of a planful model of decision-making. Apply the planful model to your career decision-making. Direct Your Future 3-2

Module 3 Definitions Decision – selection of one alternative rather than another. Alternative – different ways in which a problem may be solved, or a goal reached. Goal – an event, condition, or outcome that we set for some future date. Consequences – results, or outcomes, of making a decision. Valuing – a process of examining alternatives. Direct Your Future 3-3

Module 3 Basic Principles The outcomes of some decisions are more important than others. When outcomes are important, use the Planful Decision- Making Model. Using the Planful Decision-Making Model does not assure the outcomes you want, but increases your probability. Direct Your Future 3-4

Module 3 Other Decision-Making Approaches Painful – spending a lot of time and energy finding alternatives and information, but not making a choice. Impulsive – jumping to a choice without finding alternatives and information. Compliant – making the choice that someone else wants you to make. Delaying – putting off making a choice. Direct Your Future 3-5

Module 3 The Planful Decision-Making Model Step 1: Identify the decision to be made. Step 2: Consider characteristics of self. Step 3: Identify alternatives. Step 4: Collect information about each alternative. Step 5: Put alternatives in priority order. Step 6: Take action. Step 7: Review the decision and possible outcomes. Direct Your Future 3-6

Module 3 Homework for Next Session Write a one or two-page description of yourself from three different perspectives or viewpoints: How your parent(s)/guardians see you. How your friends see you. How your teachers see you. Using Activity 7: Connecting Life Roles, interview one of your parents or another adult about different life roles they play. You should complete the worksheet and bring it to the next session. Direct Your Future 3-7