The Complete Decision-Making Style Test

The test below is based on 12 decision-making styles. Check all that apply and discover your primary and secondary styles. Need a printable version of this test for your organization? You can purchase a PDF version here.

I don’t make any decisions before I consult others.
Other people’s well-being and mental health are important priorities when making decisions.
I make my own decisions; however, I consult a few key individuals before deciding.
I am capable of making fast decisions in response to unexpected challenges.
I often make choices that help maintain good relationships.
I don’t need too much information to make a decision.
I seek expert advice, but ultimately I decide myself.
I deal with problems as they arise without trying to predict and prevent them.
I don’t necessarily feel the need to consult others before making a decision.
I enjoy brainstorming.
I try my best to gather all available data before making a decision.
I am very independent when it comes to making decisions.
I often act impulsively, and I let the details work themselves out later.
I trust my gut feelings to make decisions.
I make sharp decisions and give clear instructions to others.
I rely on logic rather than intuition to problem-solve.
When making a decision, I trust my initial impressions even if I can’t fully explain why I feel that way.
I want everyone to participate in the decision-making process.
I consider other people’s perspectives but rely on my own judgment in the end.
I gather advice and opinions, but the final decision is up to me.
I often rely on my past experiences when making decisions, even if the situation at hand is different.
Being decisive has been working well for me so far.
I would rather let someone else decide if I can.
I don’t want to be pressured into making a quick decision.
I don’t try to fix what isn’t broken.
I am interested in different perspectives on the issue at hand.
I let things happen and then react when I have to.
Consulting others requires time and effort, so I usually end up making decisions alone.
I am not into long-term planning.
I make charts and write pros and cons lists to evaluate my options.
I make decisions based on my future goals rather than the current situation.
I often make snap decisions.
My main task is to facilitate discussions and let everyone decide.
I don’t have any issue with deciding for others.
I tend to delay making decisions as much as I can.
I always consider the long-term impact of my decisions.
Collective decision-making makes me more comfortable because we’re all ready to handle the outcome.
To me, making last-minute decisions is an exhilarating experience.
I take charge in high-stakes situations and tell others what to do.
I am confident in my own choices and don’t usually seek other people’s opinions.
I always worry about how my decisions affect others.
If I am unsure, I follow other people’s suggestions.
Making decisions without others’ input makes me uneasy.
I consider the emotional impact of my decisions on others.
I am willing to adjust my decision based on new information.
Making decisions with uncertain outcomes makes me really uncomfortable.
I have several people I trust, and their feedback and approval are really important to me when I’m making decisions.
I have a vision and make decisions that bring me closer to that vision.

Submit

Analytical Decision-Making Style

As an analytical decision-maker, you prefer to gather all available information before making decisions. Once you have all the data you can get your hands on, you methodically analyze it to make your best choice. You have a soft spot for graphs, charts, statistics, and pros and cons lists. It’s worth noting that you are quite flexible in your decision-making and are ready to adjust the course of action based on new information if necessary.

Personality Match
Enneagram Type 5: Focuses on gathering knowledge and is highly analytical.
Temperament
Melancholic: Detail-oriented, methodical, and focused on accuracy.

Intuitive Decision-Making Style

People who prefer the intuitive decision-making style rely on their gut feelings and instincts more than on data and facts. While their choices may seem spontaneous, their feelings and instincts are, in fact, the result of their past experiences. These past experiences allow them to size up the situation quickly and form an almost instant opinion.

Personality Match
Enneagram Type 7: Relies on intuition and is spontaneous and forward-thinking.
Enneagram Type 4: Relies on deep emotions and unique perspectives when making decisions.

Temperament Match
Sanguine: Impulsive, creative, and driven by instincts.
Phlegmatic: Calm, introspective, and guided by inner feelings.

Dependent Decision-Making Style

If you are a dependent decision-maker, you feel uneasy making choices without other people’s input. You trust others to guide you in your decision-making process, and your preferences are largely shaped by the feedback you receive from others.

Personality Match
Enneagram Type 6: Seeks reassurance and guidance from others.

Temperament
Phlegmatic: Collaborative, prefers security, and seeks external validation.

Spontaneous Decision-Making Style

As a spontaneous decision-maker, you hardly ever overthink anything! You aren’t particularly interested in long-term planning and enjoy making last-minute decisions. You have a high tolerance for uncertainty and rely on your ability to adapt to circumstances.

Personality Match
Enneagram Type 7: Energetic, spontaneous, and optimistic.
Temperament
Sanguine: Impulsive, adaptable, and lives in the moment.

Avoidant Decision-Making Style

If you are an avoidant decision-maker, you would rather let others decide or leave things as they are. Making choices and dealing with responsibility can feel uncomfortable. As a result, you end up procrastinating when faced with several options.

Personality Match
Enneagram Type 9: Avoids confrontation and decision-making, seeks comfort.
Temperament
Phlegmatic: Non-confrontational, avoids stress, and prefers peace.

Directive Decision-Making Style

As a directive decision-maker, you are a very confident person. When the stakes are high, you jump in and take charge. You make quick, sharp decisions and give clear instructions. You are very assertive and don’t hesitate to make decisions for others if necessary.

Personality Match
Enneagram Type 8: Confident, assertive, and takes control.
Temperament
Choleric: Strong-willed, decisive, and likes to be in charge.

Behavioral Decision-Making Style

People with the behavioral decision-making style focus on how their choices affect others and try their best to preserve good relationships. When making choices, they prioritize other people’s well-being.

Personality Match
Enneagram Type 2: Focuses on relationships and how decisions affect others.
Temperament
Phlegmatic: Compassionate, empathetic, and relationship-oriented.

Conceptual Decision-Making Style

If you are a conceptual decision-maker, you are a visionary. You focus on the big picture and make your decisions accordingly. All the little day-to-day changes and challenges cannot distract you from your ultimate goals. You keep your eyes on the prize and prioritize future outcomes over current situations.

Personality Match
Enneagram Type 3: Future-focused, visionary, and goal-oriented.

Enneagram Type 1: Values long-term planning and makes decisions based on principles and a desire for improvement.

Temperament
Choleric-Sanguine: Goal-driven, strategic, and visionary, yet creative.

Democratic Decision-Making Style

As a democratic decision-maker, you focus on bringing people together and facilitating discussions. You don’t actually decide anything yourself but involve everyone in the decision-making process. You value other people’s input and different perspectives.

Personality Match
Enneagram Type 9: Values inclusiveness and harmony.
Temperament
Phlegmatic: Collaborative, patient, and seeks input from others.

Consultative Decision-Making Style

If you are a consultative decision-maker, you value experts’ advice and other people’s opinions; however, you ultimately make your own decisions.

Personality Match
Enneagram Type 6: Seeks advice from trusted people but ultimately makes their own decisions.
Temperament
Phlegmatic: Thoughtful, seeks collaboration but independent in the final judgment.

Autocratic Decision-Making Style

If you are an autocratic decision-maker, you are extremely independent in your decision-making process. You are very confident in your own choices and don’t want to spend any extra time consulting others. In fact, because you know you are going to do your own thing anyway, you feel that asking for others’ opinions will only waste their time. You are very self-reliant and want to be in control.

Personality Match
Enneagram Type 8: Confident, self-reliant, and in control.
Temperament
Choleric: Decisive, assertive, and independent.

Reactive Decision-Making Style

If you are a reactive decision-maker, you don’t fix what isn’t broken. You don’t sit and worry about potential problems or try to predict or prevent anything. Instead, you deal with problems as they arise. You rely on your adaptability and flexibility to make quick decisions in unexpected situations.

Personality Match
Enneagram Type 9: Prefers to react to situations as they arise, maintaining peace and avoiding unnecessary confrontation or proactive decisions.
Temperament
Phlegmatic-Sanguine: Adaptable, responsive, and practical.