A quick review of a GREAT NEW BOOK by Chip and Dan Heath. How to make better decisions by following a simple process.

1. Jen Runkle, PhD
Runkle Consulting
w w w . r u n k l e -
c o n s u l t i n g . c o m
HOW TO
MAKE
BETTER
CHOICES
IN LIFE
AND WORK
KEY LESSONS FROM

2. Jen Runkle, PhD
Runkle Consulting
w w w . r u n k l e -
c o n s u l t i n g . c o m
WE MAKE
BAD
DECISIONS
ALL THE
TIME
41% OF FIRST
MARRIAGES END IN DIVORCE
83% OF CORPORATE
MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS FAIL
TO CREATE ANY VALUE FOR
SHAREHOLDERS

3. Jen Runkle, PhD
Runkle Consulting
w w w . r u n k l e -
c o n s u l t i n g . c o m
 Widen your options
 Reality-test your assumptions
 Get distance before deciding
 Prepare to be wrong
THE PROCESS
What else should I
look at?
Let me get some
more data.
Let’s step back for a
minute
When is it time to
go to Plan B?

4. Jen Runkle, PhD
Runkle Consulting
w w w . r u n k l e -
c o n s u l t i n g . c o m
“WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING
DECISIONS, IT’S CLEAR THAT
OUR BRAINS ARE FLAWED
INSTRUMENTS.”

5. Jen Runkle, PhD
Runkle Consulting
w w w . r u n k l e -
c o n s u l t i n g . c o m
 We have too narrow of focus and do “spotlight thinking.” We
focus on the obvious and visible and miss important facts
outside our immediate view.
 We only look for what we want - confirmation bias. We
develop a quick belief about something and then seek out
information that confirms that belief.
 We get caught in short-term emotion. We get too emotionally
connected to the decision and struggle with being
appropriately detached.
 We are guilty of overconfidence. We assume that we know
more than we actually do. Why do we think we can accurately
predict the future?
OUR VERY HUMAN BIASES

6. Jen Runkle, PhD
Runkle Consulting
w w w . r u n k l e -
c o n s u l t i n g . c o m
1. Finding someone who’s already solved the problem
(pgs 68-89)
2. When to consider alternatives (92-96)
3. Negotiations salvaged by evidence-driven decision
making (97-101)
4. My friend Rochelle Arnold-Simmons (109)
5. H2 honor one’s priorities (175-192)
6. H2 identify and prepare for probable (194-217)
7. H2 overcome obstacles and resistance to a decision
(267-272)
FAVORITE PASSAGES