How to Prevent Bad Decisions

Many of us worry, we fear bad things that might happen, but we don’t take control of one factor that could actually reduce bad events: our decisions.

In this post, I’ll teach you several models that pilots are required to learn for safe flying. I’ll show you how to adapt these for improving your general decision-making.

These models have been rigorously developed by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration).

Here’s how you can use them to make better everyday decisions in less-than-ideal circumstances, when you’re under pressure, or not at your best.

The IM SAFE (I’m Safe) Checklist

IM SAFE is about risky contexts that can lead to impaired decision-making.

It’s a mnemonic that refers to: Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, and Eating/Emotion.

Before putting yourself in a potentially unsafe situation or when making a decision, consider if any of these factors might make the timing ill-advised.

Are you experiencing an illness? Taking a medication? Feeling under stress? Have you used alcohol? Are you fatigued? Are you hungry, or are you feeling strong emotions?

If you’re experiencing these contexts, you might want to postpone your decision. A pilot would stay grounded (not fly) in these circumstances. We can metaphorically do the same.

We can change some of these factors, like eating, calming down, or getting sleep. Whether you’re about to make a big work decision, have a difficult conversation, or simply tackle a challenging task, being physically and emotionally ready can greatly improve your judgment.

The PAVE Checklist

The PAVE Checklist is more specific to aviation, but we can adapt it. It refers to Pilot-in-command (PIC), Aircraft (is the tool fit for the task?), Environment (e.g., weather) and External pressures.

This checklist helps pilots consider risks when making the “Go/No Go” decision: whether to fly or not.

We’ve already covered “P” for pilot with the IM SAFE checklist.

“E” for External pressures is the next category within PAVE that’s most relevant to general decision-making. It refers to pressure that might cause the pilot to recklessly proceed with the flight under less-than-ideal circumstances. For example, they’re anxious to get home after a long day, don’t want to pay for a hotel, or don’t want to disappoint a passenger by delaying the flight.

In general decision-making, we can use the PAVE checklist to consider external pressures that might influence our decisions, like if we’re feeling pressured to get somewhere on time or not to disappoint someone. Under these circumstances, we might make a poor decision, like driving home from a trip when we’re tired or in bad weather, because our child has gym class the next day or we have work.

Or, imagine you’ve signed up to run a half-marathon. The external pressure of being ready to run that distance by a certain date might cause you to train on an injury.

Internal pressures matter too. For example, you notice a strain during exercise but keep going because you want to finish your planned sets. Recognising pressures in everyday life helps you pause and choose a safer or healthier path instead of reacting out of obligation or stress.

The other two categories, aircraft and environment, also apply outside aviation. Aircraft can be expanded to the tools or resources you rely on. Consider if they are in good condition or fit for your task. For example, is the tool you’re planning to use for yard work up to the job? For the environment, you might decide not to go hiking on a day with extreme heat, even if you’d planned it weeks in advance.

Ask yourself this: “In thinking about my life, how might the PAVE checklist apply to the types of decisions I commonly make?”

The Five Hazardous Attitudes

Pilots learn about five particular hazardous attitudes: Anti-authority (“Don’t tell me what to do”), Impulsivity (“I need to do something quickly!”), Invulnerability (“It won’t happen to me”), Macho (“Watch what I can do”), and Resignation (“What’s the use?”). Their antidotes are: Follow the rules, Think first, It could happen to me, Taking chances is foolish, and I can make a difference.

I wish they didn’t use the gendered language of “macho,” but the principles are good. We all exhibit these hazardous attitudes at least occasionally. You might notice that there’s one you’re more prone to than the others. Noticing these patterns helps you catch yourself earlier in the process, before a bad attitude leads to a bad decision.

You might also identify other hazardous attitudes common to you. I’m prone to thinking, “I’d rather not know,” when I’m avoiding finding out about a problem that I’ll then need to handle. My antidote: “It’s better to have the information. I can handle it.”

You can combine all the concepts covered to recognise situations where hazardous attitudes are more likely and could increase risks to you or others.

Right now, try coming up with one hazardous attitude common for you (and its antidote) that isn’t covered in the aviation five.

You Can Reduce Bad Decisions and Outcomes

It’s surprising that people are rarely taught how to make better, less risky decisions. We improve when given resources and practice to learn skills, not when we’re expected to just magically pick them up as we go through life.

Research on aviation accidents shows human factors are very common. Often, pilots know about a risk before an accident but don’t act to reduce it. The same happens in life. We are often aware of risks or hazards, but ignore them.

By using checklists and developing ways to combat hazardous attitudes, you can improve your decision-making and reduce bad outcomes. Use these general frameworks as a starting point. Build on them based on patterns you recognise in yourself. For more tools for improving your thinking in everyday scenarios, check out this guide to better creative problem-solving.