People are faced with certain situations in their lives where they need to make decisions (Deepa, Kartha). Decisions are defined as a process of choosing a course of action to deal with a problem or opportunity (Schermerhorn, Hunt, Osborn, and Uhl-Bien; 2010). Decision making is not something that people need to take lightly; these decisions will affect a person for the rest of his or her life. Steps to Decision Making When making decisions people can follow five steps that will help in the process of making the final decision. The steps are recognizing and defining the problem or opportunity, analyze alternatives, make a choice, take action, and evaluate the results (Schermerhorn, Hunt, Osborn, and Uhl-Bien; 2010). The first step of recognizing and defining the problem, this means looking at the problem. No decision needs to be made if there is no problem (Deepa, Kartha). In my life a recent decision I had to make was whether or not to take a new job where I would receive less pay, or stay at the job I was currently at and miserable. The job I was miserable at was at a daycare, where I worked nine to 10 hours a day, and only got paid for eight. I was shown no respect, and did not receive the training I needed with my promotion. The job I was offered was at a dental office where the team is smaller so they get along, the hours are better, but the pay was less.
I have defined the problem; it is time for the next step, which is looking at other alternative solutions (Deepa, Kartha). In this step one allows him or herself to think outside the box to find other possible solutions (Deepa, Kartha), Use your creative skills to come up with other alternative ways to resolve the problem (Deepa, Kartha). In this step I thought of other ways like finding a job where I would lose money but would be happy, take the job and deal with the pay cut, or stay where I am and make the best of it.