Decision Making

Discover how you make decisions and learn to leverage your natural style more effectively.

What is Decision-Making Style?

Decision-making style refers to the consistent patterns in how individuals approach choices and make decisions. While everyone uses different strategies depending on the situation, most people have dominant tendencies that characterize their typical approach.

Understanding your decision-making style helps you recognize your natural strengths and potential blind spots, enabling you to make better choices across all areas of life.

The Five Decision-Making Styles

The General Decision Making Style (GDMS) framework, developed by researchers Suzanne Scott and Reginald Bruce, identifies five distinct decision-making styles:

1. Rational Style

Rational decision-makers approach choices through systematic, logical analysis. They:

• Gather comprehensive information before deciding
• Weigh pros and cons carefully
• Consider multiple options and alternatives
• Use structured frameworks and criteria
• Prefer decisions backed by data and evidence

Strengths: Thorough analysis, well-considered decisions, documentation of reasoning Challenges: Can be slow, may over-analyze (analysis paralysis), might miss intuitive insights

2. Intuitive Style

Intuitive decision-makers rely on gut feelings, hunches, and pattern recognition. They:

• Trust their instincts and inner knowing
• Recognize patterns quickly from experience
• Make rapid assessments based on feeling
• Value impressions and "vibes"
• May struggle to explain their reasoning

Strengths: Speed, pattern recognition, comfort with ambiguity Challenges: Difficult to defend decisions, may miss important details, subject to biases

3. Dependent Style

Dependent decision-makers rely heavily on others' advice and guidance. They:

• Seek input from trusted advisors
• Value consensus and approval
• Prefer decisions made with support
• May defer to authority figures
• Want reassurance before committing

Strengths: Collaborative, considers multiple perspectives, builds buy-in Challenges: Slow when input unavailable, may not develop own judgment, can be manipulated

4. Avoidant Style

Avoidant decision-makers postpone or delegate decisions whenever possible. They:

• Delay making choices
• Hope problems resolve themselves
• Feel uncomfortable with responsibility
• May delegate decision authority to others
• Struggle with commitment to choices

Strengths: Avoids premature decisions, may allow more information to emerge Challenges: Missed opportunities, increased stress from pending decisions, loss of control

5. Spontaneous Style

Spontaneous decision-makers make quick, impulsive choices. They:

• Decide rapidly, often without deliberation
• Value action over analysis
• Feel uncomfortable with lengthy processes
• May change decisions quickly
• Prefer to move on rather than ruminate

Strengths: Speed, flexibility, action-oriented Challenges: May miss important considerations, regret decisions, appear inconsistent

The Science Behind Decision-Making Styles

Dual-Process Theory

Modern psychology recognizes two systems of thinking:

• System 1: Fast, automatic, intuitive (supports intuitive and spontaneous styles)
• System 2: Slow, deliberate, analytical (supports rational style)

Both systems have value; the key is knowing when each is appropriate.

Research Findings

Studies show that:

• No single style is universally best
• Effective decision-makers adapt their style to the situation
• Awareness of style improves decision quality
• Stress often pushes people toward their dominant style
• Styles can be deliberately developed

How the GDMS Works

The Assessment Structure

The General Decision Making Style Inventory presents 25 statements (5 per style) rated on a 5-point scale from "Strongly Disagree" to "Strongly Agree."

Example items:

• Rational: "I make decisions in a logical and systematic way"
• Intuitive: "When making decisions, I rely upon my instincts"
• Dependent: "I often need the assistance of other people when making important decisions"
• Avoidant: "I postpone decision making whenever possible"
• Spontaneous: "I make quick decisions"

Scoring

Each style receives a score from 5 to 25. Higher scores indicate greater reliance on that style. Most people score high on 1-2 styles, with others serving as secondary approaches.

Understanding Your Results

Your Dominant Style

Your highest-scoring style represents your go-to approach when facing decisions. Understanding this helps you:

• Recognize when you're in your comfort zone
• Identify situations that may challenge your approach
• Anticipate how stress affects your decisions
• Leverage your natural strengths

Your Secondary Styles

Secondary styles serve as backup approaches. They may emerge when:

• Your dominant style isn't working
• The situation calls for different skills
• You're deliberately trying something new
• You're collaborating with others

Style Combinations

Common productive combinations include:

• Rational + Intuitive: Analytical verification of intuitive insights
• Dependent + Rational: Collaborative analysis
• Intuitive + Spontaneous: Fast, adaptive decision-making

Less effective patterns include:

• Avoidant + Dependent: Decisions never get made
• Very high single style: Inflexibility in different situations

Practical Applications

In Daily Life

Match style to decision importance:

• High-stakes decisions: Engage rational processes regardless of natural style
• Routine decisions: Use intuitive/spontaneous approaches to save energy
• Personal decisions: Trust intuition more; gather data for major life choices

In Relationships

Understanding partner styles:

• If you're rational and your partner is intuitive, appreciate different forms of intelligence
• If one is avoidant, the other may need to create structure without enabling avoidance
• Dependent deciders may frustrate spontaneous partners—create decision-making protocols

In Career

Style-role fit:

• Analytical roles (finance, engineering) favor rational style
• Creative roles may benefit from intuitive style
• Management often requires style flexibility
• Entrepreneurship benefits from intuitive + action-oriented styles

How to Develop Decision-Making Skills

1. Expand Your Repertoire

Don't just strengthen your dominant style—develop flexibility:

• If you're rational, practice trusting intuition on low-stakes decisions
• If you're intuitive, practice systematic analysis on important choices
• If you're avoidant, set deadlines and stick to them
• If you're dependent, practice making small decisions alone

2. Match Style to Situation

Consider:

• Time available: Limited time favors intuitive/spontaneous
• Stakes: High stakes favor rational analysis
• Information quality: Good data supports rational; poor data may favor intuition
• Reversibility: Irreversible decisions warrant more deliberation

3. Combat Style Weaknesses

For Rational Style:

• Set decision deadlines to avoid analysis paralysis
• Trust that you've done enough analysis
• Practice making quick decisions on small matters

For Intuitive Style:

• Document your reasoning when stakes are high
• Check intuitions against data periodically
• Seek diverse perspectives to counter biases

For Dependent Style:

• Make small decisions without consulting others
• Develop confidence in your own judgment
• Recognize when seeking input is genuine collaboration vs. avoidance

For Avoidant Style:

• Set specific deadlines for decisions
• Practice with low-stakes choices
• Recognize that not deciding is itself a decision

For Spontaneous Style:

• Build in pauses for important decisions
• Create decision criteria in advance
• Review past decisions to learn from patterns

4. Use Decision-Making Frameworks

Structured approaches help any style:

• Pro/Con Lists: Simple analysis for any decision
• Decision Matrix: Weighted criteria for complex choices
• 10/10/10 Rule: How will you feel in 10 minutes, 10 months, 10 years?
• Pre-Mortem: Imagine the decision failed—what went wrong?

The Role of Emotions in Decision-Making

Modern research shows emotions are essential to good decisions:

• Emotions provide information about values and preferences
• People with damaged emotional centers make poor decisions
• Pure logic without emotion leads to paralysis
• The goal is integration, not elimination of emotion

Common Misconceptions

"Rational Decisions are Always Best"

Rational analysis is valuable but has limits:

• Time constraints often require faster approaches
• Intuition captures complex patterns analysis might miss
• Some domains are too complex for full analysis
• Emotions contain important information

"Intuitive People Don't Think"

Intuitive decision-making involves sophisticated cognition:

• Pattern recognition from extensive experience
• Rapid unconscious processing
• Integration of complex information
• Expertise-based judgment

"Avoiding Decisions Keeps Options Open"

Not deciding has consequences:

• Opportunities pass
• Others make decisions for you
• Stress accumulates
• Options may actually decrease

Related Assessments

Explore other assessments that complement decision-making style:

• Emotional Intelligence: Emotional awareness supports better decisions
• Flow State: Decisions feel easier in flow
• Locus of Control: Belief in agency affects willingness to decide

Further Reading

• Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, Fast and Slow
• Gigerenzer, G. (2007). Gut Feelings: The Intelligence of the Unconscious
• Heath, C. & Heath, D. (2013). Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work

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Take the free Decision-Making Style Assessment at innerquest.app/decision-making