#340 - A Framework for Better Decision Making

This whole month of August we have talked about improving decision making. Retirement brings about hundreds of choices. If you aren’t well-prepared to make those decisions you might simply revert to the default choice. Do you really want your retirement to be set to default? In this episode, you’ll learn how to create a framework to make tactical decisions. If you’re ready to learn how to make decisions that will help you rock retirement then press play now.

“In this episode, you’ll learn how to create a framework to make tactical decisions.”

What is the difference between strategy and tactics?

A strategy is an overarching plan to help you achieve the kind of life you envision for yourself. Strategies don’t change very often. Tactics are the specific actions or steps you take to accomplish the strategy create an amazing life. This sequence can be hard to achieve because we often jump straight to the tactical decisions without thinking about the strategy first. It’s important to keep in mind your strategy first. Have you thought about the strategy that you want to use to create the retirement of your dreams?

Retirement changes the trajectory of your life

The trajectory of your life is changing in retirement. Your life is coming off autopilot and so that leads to hundreds of small decisions. It can be hard to adjust to making all these new decisions, we often just resort to the default choice. But if you can change the way you make decisions it can have a huge impact on your life. Think about the butterfly effect that has led to the life you live right now. One tiny change in the state of your life can really make an impact in the long term. If you are wondering how you can improve your decision-making press play to hear how.

“Have you thought about the strategy that you want to use to create the retirement of your dreams? ”

Use a process-strategy-tactics approach

Before learning to make tactical decisions it is important to have some other things in place before jumping into making decisions. It is important to start with your values. Once you have a clear vision of your values then you can set goals that align with those values. After you have clear goals in place then you can develop a strategy to achieve your goals. Finally, within that strategy come the tactics. You’ll use these tactics to execute the strategy to achieve your goals that are in line with your values.

How do you make tactical decisions?

Once you have your goals and strategy in place you can make the most of your decisions by using this decision-making framework. Ask yourself these questions before making any decisions. Try it out on small decisions first before jumping into the bigger ones.

What is your objective?
What does success look like after you make the decision?
What is the ideal outcome if you make this decision?
What is the worst-case scenario?
What are the consequences of the decision?
What are the effects of this decision? Test it out. Use first-order and second-order thinking tease out what those effects might be.

“Listen in to hear how some real-life retirement decisions could play out using this framework. ”

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

[1:20] What is the difference between strategy and tactics?

PRACTICAL PLANNING SEGMENT

[5:50] If you can get just a little better at making tactical decisions it can have a huge impact on your life
[9:52] How do you make tactical decisions?
[16:45] A framework for tactical decision making