Discover Your Decision Making Style | Career Exploration and Development | Kent State University

Discover Your Decision Making Style

Step 1: To discover your decision making style, answer True or False to the following questions
Step 2: Results
You are / decision maker.

Now that you have discovered your decision-making style, read more about activities that will compliment your style and assist you with your future career planning and goal setting.

Information about Spontaneous/External decision makers:

Spontaneous Decision Makers:

  • make decisions based on what feels right
  • make decisions quickly
  • see new possibilities and change goals easily
  • rarely establish specific plans
  • get bored easily
  • will take risks

External Decision Makers:

  • think about decisions out loud
  • can argue all sides of an issue
  • need to talk to others before making a decision
  • talk and then think
Career Exploration Activities for your Decision Making Style:
  • Talk to people in various occupations
  • Share with a friend about your self-discovery and career research and ask for their insights
  • Explore career options through volunteering and part-time work
  • Keep a journal of your career exploration journey

Information about Spontaneous/Internal decision makers:

Spontaneous Decision Makers:

  • make decisions based on what feels right
  • make decisions quickly
  • see new possibilities and change goals easily
  • rarely establish specific plans
  • get bored easily
  • will take risks

Internal Decision Makers:

  • analyze problems silently and privately
  • need time to organize their thoughts
  • are introspective
  • think and then talk
Career Exploration Activities for your Decision Making Style:
  • Read descriptions of people in various occupations
  • Talk to people in a range of careers
  • Envision your perfect work day
  • Allow yourself time to reflect
  • Explore career options through volunteering and part-time work

Information about Systematic/Internal decision makers:

Systematic Decision Makers:

  • gather a great deal of information before making decisions
  • seldom act impulsively
  • are cautious about making commitments
  • choose goals and work toward them deliberately
  • are analytical and use logic when making decisions

Internal Decision Makers:

  • analyze problems silently and privately
  • need time to organize their thoughts
  • are introspective
  • think and then talk
Career Exploration Activities for your Decision Making Style:
  • Read information on careers - working conditions, earnings, education requirements, etc.
  • Assess your own values, interests and skills and match these to occupations
  • Don't try to rush the process since you need time for deep reflection
  • Develop a summary sheet of pros and cons for each career being considered
  • Give yourself permission to try something without being sure

Information about Systematic/External decision makers:

Systematic Decision Makers:

  • gather a great deal of information before making decisions
  • seldom act impulsively
  • are cautious about making commitments
  • choose goals and work toward them deliberately
  • are analytical and use logic when making decisions

External Decision Makers:

  • think about decisions out loud
  • can argue all sides of an issue
  • need to talk to others before making a decision
  • talk and then think
Career Exploration Activities for your Decision Making Style:
  • Read information on careers - working conditions, earnings, education requirements, etc.
  • Talk to people in a range of careers and assess whether or not you see a fit
  • Review your own values, interests and skills and how they compare with the requirements of the careers you are considering
  • Develop a summary sheet of pros and cons for each possible career and get a parent's or friend's opinion
  • Give yourself permission to try something without being sure
Your score was a tie, please visit with a Career Counselor for advice on choosing a career path.

If you are curious about the other styles of decision making, view information on the Spontaneous/External Style, the Spontaneous/Internal Style, the Systematic/External Style, and the Systematic/Internal Style.

(Virginia N. Gordon, The Ohio State University - adopted from R.H. Johnson)

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