Mandates. Priorities. Preferences.

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Decisions are something we all have to make. Whether our choices impact just us or impact many others, finding a good strategy for how we make decisions is critical to our well-being and success. Consider integrating these two practices into your decision-making process in your personal and professional journey:

1️⃣ Outline mandates, priorities and preferences. First, define what the absolutes, directives, non-negotiables, deal-breakers are. Be clear about what has to happen and what is essential to the decision. These are your mandates. For example, if I am looking to buy a house a mandate might be a city I have to live in or a price that is the max I can afford. When making a decision I never veer from what I have outlined as mandates.

Secondly, outline priorities. Priorities are strongly preferred but aren't absolutely essential. For example, I may prioritize having four bedrooms but three bedrooms would suffice. The third category is preferences. Preferences are everything else that is desirable as you consider the decision, but not as important as priorities. I may prefer to have an acre lot but that isn't high on the priority list.

This mandates-priorities-preferences exercise will save you time and provide clarity as you move forward with making a decision. Think of everything that contributes to the decision you are making and categorize each point into these three categories.

2️⃣ Seek the advice and counsel of three people. Find three people who know you well, have good insight into you and your circumstances, and persons you respect. These three people should have integrity and wisdom and life experience that can speak soundly into your decision. If these individuals give you the green light, then move forward. If they caution you, hesitate in giving you the nod or advise against the decision you are making, give their insight due consideration before making a decision.

We all need people to help us see our blindspots. Wise counsel can help us avoid disasters we may not see coming. As you look to make decisions, move forward with intention and wisdom.

-Mindy Muller, CFRE, President/CEO of CDP

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