One of my close friends had surgery recently. Her ailment required the opinions of two specialists. Of course, each specialist suggested a different path to get to the desired outcome. By friend was a bit overwhelmed by all the information in front of her and asked the three other members of our little clan to give our thoughts on the process.
What I found interesting about this was the three separate approaches we had to making a decision.
- My Approach: I asked her what the pros and cons of each method were- the best case and worst case scenario
- Friend 1: She asked a Doctor friend for what he would recommend if the procedure were to be needed by someone he knew
- Friend 2: She described her own issues with surgery and healing, and what her friends who had gone through the same procedure thought, and did
Three people, three different methods of thought. All valid. And oddly, all these methods led my friend to the same conclusion (coincidentally, also the decision she and her Husband were leaning towards anyway)
When you make decisions, what are the factors involved? Personally, I make lists of the possible outcomes. (Yes- I will do anything possible to use a list. I love lists) I formulate best and worst case scenarios. I think about acceptable risk. This is the numbers part of me- I can’t help but calculate odds….no matter how hard I try to be a words girl, in the end,it always comes back to numbers.
I read about a subject. And I read. And I read. If I need to make a decision I try to read as many varied opinions as possible.
I ask questions. (Shocking that I would ask questions) To me, the greatest knowledge comes from the answers that people give you, both the verbal and the non verbal (if you’re looking at someone, check out the body language) Also, a non answer is also a very telling answer- if someone avoids the question, or gives you an inconclusive answer, what does that say?
And, in the spirit of asking questions: How do you make a decision? How do you formulate an opinion? If a friend were to ask your advice, what method would you use to help them out?
Is one method superior to another?
I need your opinion: how do you form an opinion?