How do you improve your decision-making by auditing and reviewing?

1 What is decision auditing and reviewing?

Decision auditing and reviewing is a method of assessing your decision-making quality and effectiveness by examining the steps you took, the information you used, the alternatives you considered, and the results you achieved. It helps you identify the strengths and weaknesses of your decision-making, as well as the factors that influenced your choices. By doing this, you can gain insights into your decision-making style, preferences, biases, and blind spots, and use them to improve your future decisions.

2 How to audit and review your decisions?

Auditing and reviewing your decisions can be done by asking yourself four simple questions: what was the decision and why did you make it; how did you make the decision and what information did you use; what were the alternatives and how did you evaluate them; and what was the outcome and how did it compare to your expectations. Answering these questions can help you analyze your decision-making process from different angles, as well as reflect on the logic, evidence, assumptions, and criteria that guided your choices. This framework can be applied to any decision, regardless of size or type, and used as a tool for learning and improvement.

3 When to audit and review your decisions?

You can audit and review your decisions at any time, but it is especially useful to do so after a significant or complex decision, or after a decision that had unexpected or undesirable consequences. By auditing and reviewing your decisions soon after they are made, you can capture the details and emotions that influenced your choices, and compare them to the actual results. This can help you to avoid repeating the same mistakes, or to reinforce the good practices that led to positive outcomes.

4 How to use the feedback from auditing and reviewing?

The feedback from auditing and reviewing your decisions can help you improve your decision-making in several ways. For instance, you can recognize and correct errors or biases that may have impacted your choices, such as overconfidence or anchoring. Additionally, you can increase the quality and quantity of information used for making decisions by seeking more diverse sources. You can also expand the alternatives considered for making decisions by utilizing tools such as brainstorming or decision matrices. Furthermore, you can adjust your expectations and criteria for making decisions by setting realistic goals and considering the risks involved. Finally, you can learn from the successes and failures of your decisions by celebrating the wins, acknowledging the losses, and identifying the lessons.

5 How to make auditing and reviewing a habit?

Making auditing and reviewing your decisions a habit can be achieved with regular practice and systematic approaches. To do this, schedule a time and place to audit and review your decisions soon after they are made, preferably when you are not distracted or stressed. Record your decision-making process and outcome, either in writing, audio, or video. Use the four questions as a guide for your review. Periodically look for patterns, trends, or gaps in your choices, and share your decision-making audits and reviews with others such as mentors, peers, or coaches. Seek their feedback and advice, apply it to your future decisions, and track your progress and improvement.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?