Decision making Quality

Decision making quality can be as much about the quantity of your decisions as about the knowledge and wisdom you bring to bear. Keep making decisions all day and you may start to tire out and begin to opt for easy options and maintaining the status quo. Over use can wear out your decision making strength as surely as hiking can exhaust your quads and abs.

Research shows that as you work your way through a lengthy series of decisions you are likely to become tired and opt for safer possibilities. For Laser sailors this means that after a race or two of choosing which side to play, whether to push an opponent or stay clear, selecting the favored end of the line and guessing the timing of the next shift, you will tend to choose not to choose: 

    • Tack now or wait for the shift to deepen? Stay on this tack. 
    • Bail and look for a better spot on the starting line? Stick it out.
    • Jibe to cover or try to out run them? Keep doing what I’m doing.

This tendency is only a big deal if you think tactical or strategic decisions are likely to be important in the latter stages of a race or regatta. Does it really matter if you sail all the way to the corner on the last leg of the race? If you push starboard advantage when the other tack is looking better?

To protect your decision making quality, make as many decisions as possible before the day of competition. Save your race day decision energy by knowing ahead what you are going to do about things like:   

    • When are you getting up and heading for the venue?
    • What are you going to eat and where?
    • Are you going to rig early or wait until just before you launch?
    • What are you going to wear?

How do you rejuvenate your decision energy? Same as your muscle energy – fuel your body properly. Those who eat complex foods early in the day and recharge with simpler foods as the day goes on tend to make more considered decision and be willing to decide to change their course of action.

So, is this information going to change the way you manage your next regatta? Better get that decision out of the way now!