1. Chapter 8 Developing Your Decision Making: Strategize Your Game Plan
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it, you will land among the stars.”
—Les Brown

2. Student Learning Outcomes
Describe and explore your own decision-making process.
Apply the principles of decision making to your career search.
Write your goals and objectives.
Make tentative career/education/training choices.
Define and use stress management techniques.
Set and manage financial goals.

3. Decision Making
The process of identifying and the selecting of alternatives based largely on the preferences of the decision maker – your goals, lifestyles, values, and past experiences.
Decisions are evaluated by their probability of success or effectiveness.

4. Barriers to Decision Making
Attitudes shape your behavior and ability to make confident decisions.
Poor outcomes result from:
A negative attitude
Limited knowledge
Lack of personal responsibility for consequences

5. Common Decision-making Styles
Planning (Rational/Linear)
Intuitive
Impulsive
Compliant
Delaying
Fatalistic
Agonizing
Paralytic

6. Questions to Ask When Stuck
What are the assumptions (attitudes) affecting my decisions?
What are my feelings regarding these decisions?
Why am I clinging to behavior that prevents me from making this decision?
What further information do I need in order to generate alternatives?

7. Factors Adversely Affecting Decisions
External Factors
Family expectations
Family responsibilities
Cultural stereotypes
Male/female stereotypes
Survival needs
Other
Internal Factors
Lack of self-confidence
Fear of change
Fear of making a wrong decision
Fear of failure
Fear of ridicule
Other

8. Conditions Needed for Change
Dissatisfaction with current condition
Concept of something better waiting in future
Belief that there is a way to get there
Premise: The benefits of a change outweigh the costs of making that change.

9. Choice, Not Chance: Decisions Are in Our Power
Define goal
Assess alternatives
Gather information
Assess outcome probability and desirability
Take action
Refine goal

10. Rational/Linear Decision Making
Also known as Planning.
A planning approach can reduce discomfort and uncertainty.
Allows for the gathering of information for making informed decisions.

11. Intuitive Decision Making
Uses the right brain, which thrives on imagination and creativity and adapts to change spontaneously.
Leans towards decisions that feel right.
These types of decision makers are adept at finding opportunities.
View things globally.

12. Goal and Objectives Goals Broad statements of purpose
General and long-range
Ongoing process
Objectives
Specific and practical steps toward goals
Short-term
Visible and measurable

13. Goal Setting Strategy
#1 Consider what you are willing to give up to get what you want.
#2 Give yourself a realistic timeline to reach the goal.
#3 Set goals high.
#4 Reward yourself after completing each objective and after reaching each goal.

14. Managing Financial Resources
Set financial goals.
Save money.
Use credit cards wisely.
Purchase insurance as an investment.
Learn to budget.

15. Stress Management
Positive stress can increase motivation, energy, and perception.
Negative stress can reduce effectiveness and can cause anxiety, frustration, apathy, lowered self-esteem, aggression, and depression.
Become adept at integrating stress-management techniques into your life.

16. Deciding on a Major
Common to feel anxiety, pressure from parents and family when undecided.
Start by choosing an area of general interest.
Consider personality, values, interests, skills when narrowing choices.
Use college Career Center resources and counselors.

17. Choosing a Major
Understand that most majors don’t lead to clear career paths.
Every major can generate numerous career opportunities.
Google “What can I do with a major in” for sites outlining career options for majors.

18. Chapter 8 Vocabulary Review
Decision making
Attitudes
Life development process
Risk taking
Planning
Intuitive
Goals
Objectives
Budget
Stress: positive and negative