Making decisions is a part of life. We all have to do it, every day. But how do we make decisions? And have we already made them? Some might think this is a strange question, but it's something worth thinking about. After all, the decisions we make can affect our lives in a big way. So how do we go about making them? 

Do we make decisions, or look for justification for the decisions we have already made? How often have we made, or observed, decisions that may or may not have been made with an existing bias? 

How often have we made decisions with a bias? Decision making with a bias can lead to suboptimal decisions that can have negative impacts and consequences. It is often the result of several factors such as cognitive dissonance, a sunk cost fallacy, self-fulfilling prophecy, and believing what we already know and being comfortable in that space. The volatility we now experience in agriculture makes it increasingly important to focus on how we make decisions. 

While bias is often unavoidable, by becoming aware of our personal biases we can recognise when it is affecting our ability to make a positive decision and create processes to mitigate the impact. 

Face the facts, brutally and without fear or favour.

We ask ‘what’s working?’ and ‘what could be improved?’, ensuring that these questions are asked, the facts are questioned and examined, critically, to deliver the outcome we want. We must consider the outcome we’re expecting and understand what will and won’t achieve it. 

By measuring the outcomes, continuing to ask the questions, and testing and exploring, all while being brutal on ourselves, the facts and the decisions, we can create the intended outcomes.