November 2021- we are celebrating Career Development Month and looking back in the blog archives!
Decision-making is an important skill. If you are about to make a major decision, like whether to accept a job offer or whether to quit your job and make a career change, you want to think before you leap. So, how can you make better decisions in your career path? Here are a few steps.
1. Keep Your Emotions in Check
First, you want to acknowledge your emotions yet shift your focus to the rational part of your brain. Too many times, people base a decision on emotion and instantly feel regret. To make a clear decision about next steps in your career, it’s important to sit with your feelings so you are aware of how they could impact your decision, then shift to a calmer more rational frame of mind.
2. Meditate
Neuroscientists believe that people who meditate make better decisions, especially when they are given ultimatums. Many people react out of anger, hurt feelings, or even spite. Meditation can help you stay calm through the decision-making process and make more rational choices. When making important life decisions, you have to think of your personal interest first. Emotion can often interfere with this. People who consistently meditate are better able to keep their feelings in check and see the bigger picture.
3. Make a List of Pros and Cons
Thinking about the positives and the negatives will help you tap into the analytical part of your brain. To figure out if a decision is smart, you need to be able to weigh the benefits against the shortcomings. If the long-term benefits win out, you can trust you are making the right decision.
4. Use Your Intuition
While basing decisions on emotion often backfires, do not discount the significance of intuition. Sometimes, you have to trust your instincts. This is especially true if you find yourself teetering back and forth between two options. Choices are not always clear cut. The pros and cons will often seem balanced. If you overthink a decision, you can end up making the wrong choice, so if you have good instincts, trust them.
5. Get in Touch with Your Priorities
It is much easier to make smart choices if you understand your values, especially if you know how each value ranks. If you make a decision that unknowingly goes against a value you have, you are not going to be happy with your choice. Try to understand what in your life matters to you most. This might include your hobbies, your family, your friends, and your interests.
If you still find yourself unable to come to a rational decision, turn to people who you trust. If you are too close to a situation, you might not be able to see things clearly. Your best friend, a trusted family member, or a mentor can help clear things up. Oftentimes, these people know you even better than you know yourself, so their input can be invaluable.
Are you looking for an opportunity in the Specialty Chemical, Plastics, or Animal Health industry?
Contact us to discuss how we can help you in your career path. Boaz Partners is a premier executive search firm focused on the direct recruitment of executives and professionals for the specialty chemicals and plastics space. We are your partner, and our focus is on custom recruiting solutions.
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