DECISION-MAKING TECHNIQUE “DECARTES SQUARE”

Descartes Square is a simple decision-making technique that requires very little time. It helps to clarify the relevant selection criteria and the consequences of each decision. The fact is that in a situation that requires a solution, we often get hung up on one or two of its aspects and, as a result, drive ourselves into a state of impasse, not noticing the selection criteria that are significant for us.

This is a simple decision making technique. Its essence lies in the fact that you need to consider the problem / situation by answering the following 4 questions:
1. What will happen if this happens? (What will I get, pluses from this).
2. What happens if this doesn’t happen? (Everything will remain as it was, pluses from not getting what you want).
3. What will NOT happen if this happens? (Cons of getting what you want).
4. What will NOT happen if this does NOT happen? (Cons of not getting what you want). Be careful with this question, because the brain will want to ignore the double negative. And the answers may be similar to those of the first question. Don’t allow it.

WHY does this technique work? Descartes’ Square helps clarify the consequences of every decision. The fact is that in a situation that needs a solution, we often get stuck on one position: what will happen if this happens? With the help of the “square of Descartes” we consider the same situation from 4 different sides.