The balance between emotion and reason, and TVF’s top tip for effective decision making in the workplace.
Introduction
35,000. That’s how many decisions we are thought to make on average every day.1 This week, TVF has taken a look into the neuroscience behind decision making and the insights this can offer to the workplace.
The Complexities of Decision Making
Despite extensive research, the full complexities behind decision making remain unclear. However, in recent years, scientists have shed light on an intricate struggle going on in our brains. When it comes to making a decision, a fine balance needs to be achieved between regions of the brain called the Striatum and the pre-frontal cortex.2,3 the Striatum is involved in value-based decision making such as critical, informed decisions.4 The pre-frontal cortex, on the other hand, is associated with emotion and willpower.3 Although often thought to be solely involved in decisions relating to self-control, research has shown the pre-frontal cortex is involved in all decision-making.5 This is backed up by studies that show people with damage to their pre-frontal cortex (whose IQ, learning, and language were not impacted), have difficulty making decisions as a result of their injury.3
Communication between these regions of the brain helps us to fully weigh up the risks, benefits, and long-term implications of a decision. However, this balance in our brain is just the tip of the iceberg as many other factors influence decision making. For example, just 15 minutes of mindfulness per day has been shown to improve our decision making!6 Another important factor in decision making is personality. Just like any other aspect of an individual’s personality, such as their likes and dislikes, a person’s decision-making process is unique as well.7 Understanding how personality can affect an individual’s decision making has the potential to significantly benefit the workplace.
TVF’s Top Tip for Effective Decision Making
At TVF, our client services team has recently dedicated their weekly team-building time to completing personality profiles. These profiles have offered detailed insight into their workplace behaviours, including; individual management and communication styles, as well as their strengths and potential weaknesses. All these aspects play a role in their ability to communicate choices to one another, and ultimately reach decisions.
That is why our TVF top tip for effective decision making is completing personality profiles with your team. Having self-awareness of your workplace personality, as well as recognition of your colleagues’ personalities will allow you to tailor your communication style based on the individual. So why not complete a free personality profile?
Not only can these insights be applied to every workplace, they also stand to improve client communication and can lead to more effective decision making. For example, someone who is more focused on key points and primary outcomes may find a real-time discussion of the choices and potential benefits the most effective way to reach a decision. On the other hand, someone who is very analytical and detail-oriented may want time to deliberate the decision beforehand, and so providing a detailed, written overview in advance may help the decision-making process.
Seems obvious when you are aware!
By Kate Gosling
