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Introduction

Career planning in the 21st century

Career planning road map

Decision making styles

Pros and cons of decision making approaches

Summary

Decision making styles

When it comes to making a decision about the future, it can be helpful to reflect upon decisions you have made in the past and how you made these. There are different approaches to decision making and evaluating these can help you identify if you have a preferred style and if the style is appropriate for the career decisions you are going to make in the future.

 

These are a few approaches to making a decision:

  • Avoidant - puts off decision making
  • Compliant - decisions based on what others want
  • Fatalistic - decisions are left to chance
  • Impulsive - tends to make snap decisions
  • Incomplete - decisions based on limited information
  • Instinctive - decisions based on 'what feels right'
  • Rational - information is gathered from a range of reliable sources

Sarah is a sociology student at the University of Sheffield. Here's an example of her life decisions to date.

Sarah chose to study AS Levels in French, English, Biology as she had got decent grades at GCSE and thought they would leave her options open. Although she hadn’t studied Economics before, she chose the subject as she thought it would be interesting (Incomplete). Within a month of starting Economics, she knew it wasn’t for her. The only alternative option that fitted her timetable was Sociology so she transferred to that. (Fatalistic)

 

She found that she loved Sociology so decided to study that at University. She researched courses, curriculum and syllabus, and attended open days. She compiled a list of factors about each course and University; including the social life, societies, accommodation and library facilities. (Rational)

 

At the end of her first year she joined a summer camp because her current boyfriend suggested going together. (Compliant)

 

At the end of her second year she and a friend decided to buy an inter rail youth pass and travel round Europe. Although they didn’t plan it, they got as far as Paris and then caught a train leaving for Venice later that day. They had a fantastic time and made some great friends. (Impulsive)

 

So how do you make decisions?

 

Click on the graphic below to launch the exercise and reflect on your own experience of making decisions. It should take 3 - 5 minutes to complete.

map your decisions

Review of task

  • What kind of decision making approaches did you use?
  • How happy were you with the outcome of those decisions?
  • Were the decision making styles you used appropriate?
  • What have you learned about your 'preferred' decision making style(s)?