Every day in life, we are faced with the task of having to make a decision. From the rising of the sun to its setting, we are continually bombarded with decision-making opportunities whether we seek them or not. Take one good look at the daily news and it becomes evident that even our business, spiritual, and political leaders seem concerned about the best way to go about making decisions. From communication mishaps and information gaps to a failure to grasp consequences and construct a sound plan, decision¬-making challenges abound. In recent years, there have been a host of employee agitations and strikes simply because employees believe their employers are' not making the right decisions; even if they are, they feel they are not taking them into consideration ¬resulting in low productivity and loss of job satisfaction. Do you know that the process one goes through in making decisions, whether at home or at the workplace is related to your personality type? Do you feel that you or your boss is too quick to make a decision? Some personality types (Judgers) are often uncomfortable with indecision; they are quick to bring situations to a closure by quick decisions. Conversely, have you wondered why it takes forever for some other people to take a decision on an issue which needs immediate attention (perceiving type)? Maybe you or your boss, subordinate, or spouse is the type that is uncomfortable with decision-making. They would rather postpone making a decision until they have gathered what they consider to be enough information. At another level, some people take decisions by basing them on logical cause-effect analysis, often striving for impersonal objectivity. Still others in the company take decisions based on values and how decisions will impact on people. For the first group of people, a decision is fair where everybody is treated the same (Thinkers), but for the second group a decision is fair where people are treated as individuals (Feelers). Yet there are some people who prefer talking to anybody who may care to listen about their options before they can take a decision. It could be their colleague, an acquaintance, or even their hairdresser, driver, fellow-passenger, or the shop attendant. Others feel comfortable contemplating alone and trusting in their individual judgment. In another classification, some people are often prepared to alter a decision to meet external demands, while some are reluctant to do so even where new information is available. As individuals, we are naturally drawn to some patterns of decision-making. Each pattern has its strengths and weaknesses; none is better than the other. The main issue is to know how to use your strengths and, more importantly, work on your weaknesses in decision-making. A very decisive and quick decision-maker may sometimes close-off options abruptly and leave other team-members out of the process. Similarly, a person who usually postpones decision-making and generates a lot of alternatives may have difficulty deciding among all the alternatives. No matter which position one may occupy, whether at home or the work place, the decisions you or others make may, directly or indirectly affect you. That is why it is important to understand yourself and the people you are involved with day in and day out, both at work and at home. At home, for example, if the woman is a 'judger' who naturally wants a closure and decides quickly, but the husband is a 'perceiver' who is uncomfortable with decision-making and may want to postpone decisions, the wife may be accused of running the home! Getting to know yourself better will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses; this will encourage you to capitalise on your strengths while working to improve on your blind-spots. Wouldn't it be fantastic if there were a universally applicable tool that could guide us in our decision-making process as well as aid us in understanding the decision-making process of others? Fortunately, there is such a tool - the Myers Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®) assessment, which is used internationally to facilitate an understanding of personality patterns and differences. This tool is now available in Ghana and individuals and employees in organisations can know their personality type and develop action plans to enhance their decision-making skills. With more than sixty years of research and development supporting its reliability and validity, the MBTI® tool has helped millions worldwide develop a deeper understanding of themselves and others. Clearly, all of us as employees, employers, wives, husbands or students can use the tool to gain insights into and expand the processes we go through when we make decisions. Surely, this will make our homes and workplaces, better places. Credit: Pattricia Anyetei/B&FT