Positive Energy - How Do You Make Those Decisions?

September 2006

Dear Mark

Welcome to September’s edition of Positive Energy from Milecastle Consultancy.

A big thank you to everyone who contacted me last month to say how helpful they’d found August’s newsletter on goal setting. This month we’re continuing on the same theme, but looking at the importance of making informed decisions and how to access information that will help you achieve your goals.

Please keep you comments and success stories coming in. I love hearing from you. You can email me or call me on 01697 747 821.

Best wishes,

Deciding to make a change in your life is an incredibly liberating, energy boosting and exciting experience. Maybe you’re thinking about taking up a new hobby, or perhaps you’re considering a more transformational change such as training for a new career. In either case, you’re likely to procrastinate on the decision if you don’t have enough information to help you take the first steps.

The initial decision to make a change is usually based on desire and intuition. Your gut feelings are a fantastic motivator, but making big decisions based on intuition alone is very risky.

You may never be 100% certain about the changes you are about make, but if you do enough research you can minimise your risk of failing.

The process of researching everything you need to know about your goal may uncover information that makes you reassess your plans. It may sway you in a slightly different direction, or it may reassure you that the direction you’re taking is the right one.

Information gathering can be a daunting task. But like most things, if you break the process down into small steps, it’s a lot easier to get started.

Here are three simple steps to making an informed decision:

First identify a goal. It doesn’t matter how big or small, or how realistic or challenging it is.

Next write a list of all the things you’ll need to know if you’re going to embark on that goal. Think about what is currently holding you back and what information you need that will help you make an informed decision. What information will give you the confidence you need to either get the ball rolling or dismiss the goal once and for all?

Finally write down where you are going to find the information you need. Can your network of friends, family or colleagues help you? Will you need to go to a reference library or contact professional organisations for information? Is there anything in the media, or are there websites or published material that will educate you?

Once you’ve identified what information you are missing and where you can access it, then you can prioritise your research and get started on gathering all the facts you need to make an informed decision.

How to become your own journalistic team

Claire Padfern from Newcastle was on a short term contract. She wasn’t sure what job she wanted to do next. Her goal was simply to get something more secure. The HR team advised her to think about three ideal jobs and then go and interview people doing those jobs.

She managed to find three people who were open to being questioned, and then quizzed each of them over a coffee. She asked how they got into the job, what were the good things and the bad things about the role, where did they think they would be in five years time and what were the three things they wished they had known when they started.

The information she received helped her to kick-start her decision making process. As a result her goal became focused towards moving into an accounts role.

Around Alone by Emma Richards. Britain’s sailing heroine has a lot to teach us about goal setting and perseverance. An inspiring read.

Six Thinking Hats by Edward de Bono. When you’re trying to make decisions about your future it can often help to try different types of thinking. A great little book to help with every day problem solving.

www.belbin.com/belbin-team-roles.htm. If you play a strong Resource Investigator role in teams (as I do) then you may already be an obsessive information gatherer which will help you to move forward with your goals. Everyone can use the Belbin model to build self knowledge of behavioural preferences.

Come and see us! On 20 September we will be at the South Yorkshire Rural Skills Open Day at Elsecar Heritage Centre from 2pm until 8pm. I’ll be talking about the work that we do and taking bookings for a programme we will be running at the Centre for women in agriculture and forestry. The programme is heavily subsidised with EU money, so if you know women in that field who pay their business rates or council tax to Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster or Sheffield, then get them to come along and meet us.

Are you struggling to move closer to your goals? It’s the start of the new school term and it’s a great time for you to turn over a new leaf and take control of your life. You don’t have to do this alone. This month we’re offering all Positive Energy readers “mates rates” for our Open Springboard Programmes. Sign up before the end of the month and you’ll save 12% on the cost of the programme.

For more information on this fabulous offer, visit us at www.milecastle.co.uk and click on Springboard Open Programmes. Tell your boss you can save money on the training budget as well as bringing a real benefit to your working and non-working life. If they're still not convinced then get them to give us a call on 01697 747 821.

In next month’s issue of Positive Energy we’re going to move away from goal setting and look at how to build your confidence in being assertive.

Milecastle Consultancy Ltd
Tel: 01697 747 821 Email: sue.hewitt@milecastle.co.uk Website: www.milecastle.co.uk
Milecastle Consultancy Ltd, 1 Rose Cottages, Gilsland, Brampton, Cumbria CA8 7AP