Cue Card 25-Describe a good decision that you once made

Describe a good decision that you once made

You should say:

  1. -What the decision was
  2. -How you made your decision
  3. -Explain why you think it was a good decision
  • Several months ago I had to decide whether to get higher education abroad or locally. You can’t even imagine how painful the process was.
  • But now I think that this is one of the best decisions I have ever made. One day my parents and I were having dinner when suddenly they told me it was time to start thinking about my future and that they were ready to pay for my education abroad if it was what I really wanted to do.
  • At first, I was on cloud nine, but then I started agonising over the decision. I asked my friends what they would do if they were given such an opportunity.
  • Needless to say, opinions differed wildly. Then I made a list of pros and cons and analysed all ‘what-ifs’, which threw me into doubt all the time.
  • I also read a few articles about education abroad and even tried to consider job prospects in different countries.
  • I struggled to make a decision because my future was at stake. And, of course, I was afraid to suffer consequences of the wrong choice.
  • It was difficult to imagine what living abroad would be like. Also, I would have to leave my friends and family behind.
  • After a great deal of thought I decided to seize this opportunity as it’s better to regret what you have done than but you haven’t. Now I am planning to study in Canada.
  • Of course, the outcomes cannot be accurately predicted yet, I am sure I have made the right decision because I have talked to some people who already study in Canada, and they told me about their experience.
  • So I will study in one of the best colleges in Canada. It’s a really great step to a more secure future.
  • I will start a new life, develop new habits, meet many interesting people, and grow as a person. I am still a bit worried and fear disappointment but at the same time look forward to this change.

FOLLOW UPS

Decision making

  1. What skills are necessary when making decisions?

Well, to my mind, there are a few really important skills which can help people make sound decisions. The first one is to establish a positive decision-making environment. What I mean is to agree on a purpose, make sure the right issue is being discussed and agree on a process to push the decision forward. Another one is to come up with solutions, evaluate alternatives, identify and assess possible consequences. And, finally, by far the most important skill is to consider certain constraints and choose the best option.

  1. What do you think are the qualities of a good leader or a good decision maker?

Well, as my experience shows a good decision-maker is, first of all, a person who understands and is able to manage their emotions and those of others because in order to make a sound decision a person needs to focus on the facts as much as possible and concentration comes only when emotions are under control. Moreover, a good decision-maker is somebody who easily accepts the uncertainty and always moves on trusting themselves and their expertise and not getting stuck in the cycle of over thinking. I also reckon that people who make right decisions are influential and inspirational and are able to calmly and clearly express their decisions to others.

  1. How can people improve their decision-making skills?

I guess there are a lot of ways to improve your decision making skills, and all of them are based on analysing and estimating the situation. To my mind, the first step you have to take is weigh the pros and cons of your decision to ensure that you are making the best decision possible. In order to do that you may need to do research or even get an opinion of a well-informed person. You should also learn how to plan ahead and not to dwell on mistakes leaving more time for uncovering the risks or choosing the best alternative.

  1. How do you think computers will change the way people make decisions?

Well, computers have already entered all spheres of people’s life and changed everything including the way people make decisions. They have made the process of taking a decision faster and easier by providing access to information, analysing and displaying this information, making recommendations and even critiquing human decisions. Computers also provide people with functional support for making decisions and help overcome limitations in human memory. And, in some cases they can even make the full decision automatically balancing intuitive and analytical approaches, coming to the best possible result. I don’t think there will be no significant changes in the future; I guess that old changes will just be brought to perfection.

  1. Do parents in your country allow their children to make important decisions about the future?

Well, actually, it depends on the family and age of a child. In some families, parents treat their children as equals from an early age trusting them and giving a free hand. Children in such families are not only allowed but, I would even say, encouraged to make important decisions all by themselves. Of course, when kids are too young, parents provide them with some advice and support but the older they become, the less help to get. There are also a lot of families in my country in which parents are overprotective and don’t let even their teenage children make decisions and assisted feeling certain that they know what their kids need much better and micromanaging them.

  1. Do you think that parents should make important decisions for their children?

To my mind, everything depends on a child’s maturity. If a decision is really crucial but a child is still living in a world of fantasy and doesn’t clearly understand the rules of real life, of course, parents should interfere and give their kid a hand. They can share their huge experience which they accumulated throughout life in order to help their child avoid potential danger and learn to realise the consequences of different decisions. But if a child is psychologically mature and ready to take responsibility for his choices, I guess parents accept the choices and decisions viewing the happenings from the side-lines. This way, they will bring up a confident and independent child who will feel in control will themselves.

  1. How can older people or parents help young people make their own decisions wisely?

I think the first thing parents can do to teach their children to make wise decisions is to give them a role in family decisions, for example, when planning activities or deciding on household jobs. It’s also important to teach young people to plan ahead and think the decisions through and give them as many opportunities to practice solving problems as possible. Older people should also instruct the young about the importance of taking others’ needs into account and the necessity of understanding that they are responsible for making the decision.

  1. Do you think that teachers should help students make decisions?

Of course, they should, I would even say teachers must help students to make decisions by reinforcing the development of decision-making skills involving kids in social activities and games and providing them with opportunities to make simple decisions. They can push kids to make decisions by asking them to explain the reasons for their choices in class or comment on decision made by characters in stories. Teachers can also motivate kids to make decisions by attracting them to decide on school rules and encouraging them to take responsibility for generating options.

  1. Do you think it’s important for parents to encourage the development of leadership abilities in their children?

I am sure it is. Leadership abilities open a lot of doors in front of people, therefore it’s of primary importance for parents to encourage their development in their kids. It is vital to teach children to project a confident self-image, which is about the way they will appear to other people, get along with others, including those they don’t like, show flexibility and comfort with divergent points of view and many other skills which will help them with respect and trust of others and become successful in the future.

  1. In what ways can parents encourage their children to develop leadership abilities?

I guess these ways depend on the age of a child. If parents want to develop leadership abilities in young children, they should involve them in doing team sports or playing team games because it will teach kids to work hard to attain a goal, always put out their best effort and appreciate abilities of others. Another way is to try to interest them in learning music or joining a drama club which can help kids overcome shyness and breed an intense sense of teamwork and community. When parents want to encourage the development of leadership abilities in teenagers, they can, for instance, push them to do some volunteer work which offers an opportunity to observe, model and practice leadership skills in real-life settings or complete some summer leadership courses which will prepare them for leadership roles in adult life.

  1. Do you think decision making today is different to decision making in the past?

Well, definitely it is. The first thing that makes it different is a much higher speed of decision-making these days. There is almost no time to weigh the alternatives in comparison with the past because you snooze, you lose. What is more, people have more options to choose from because there is a wider choice of everything today. All these things make decision-making more complicated as opposed to what it was like even a decade ago.

  1. What are some typical decisions that families make?

Lots of them, actually. For instance, whether to spend money now or save it for future or whether to have one, two or more children. Families with kids also decide on but disciplinary and educational practices to use and what recreational activities to choose to satisfy everyone’s wants. If to look at everyday decisions families make, they are usually about what to eat, whether to buy something or not and if yes, then when and where to buy it.

  1. Do you think it’s a good idea to make decisions when one is feeling strong emotions or is it better to make decisions when one’s emotions are not strong?

I am more than sure that it’s better to make decisions when emotions or not strong because turbulent emotions distort the real situation as well as people’s ability to think clearly. What is more, when people stick to something with too much passion, this makes them less open-minded and makes them reason in a subjective way instead of an objective one, which often has dark prospects and deplorable results.

  1. Which do you think is better to make decisions quickly or to make decisions slowly?

Well, I guess it’s better to make decisions slowly in order to get extra time to gather and analyse information, fully consider the options, weigh the alternatives and, as a result, make more balanced, well-thought-out and objective decisions. Though, in some situations the only right way is to be fast and act when opportunities arise in order not to be late. So, it depends on the situations and decisions, to my mind.

Leave a Comment