How to Navigate the Decision-Making Process with Your Partner
posted on May 8, 2013 | by Amanda Holstein

Today’s post is written by the lovely Nichole Ciotti of the blog Vanilla Extract. Nichole has some amazing relationship advice and such a unique and healthy perspective on relationships in general that I thought we all could benefit from some of her tips. Let me know in your comments below if you’d like more posts like this! Enjoy!
Decision-making…together. It’s a lot like driving down a winding road. There are quick turns and speed bumps you have to slow down for so you don’t crash. Those speed bumps represent decisions (you make together) and the road – your relationship. When you’re single, the road is smooth with hardly any hiccups. Your life is literally like a highway and you can ride it all night long… (channeling Rascal Flatts here).
Do you ever find that you and your other half get in disputes over mundane things like what silverware to buy for your new apartment or what bedding to get for the guest room? What seems like an easy decision can actually turn into a major tiff if you don’t appoint people to the right roles. Wait. Roles?
I resisted to this type of “role playing” in the beginning. It sounded too formal and forced, which is the opposite of what I want any relationship to be. But then, something just clicked.
In a business, you have a CEO and a CFO. If the CEO made the financial decisions, the company would struggle because the CFO knows money best. It’s his thing. Plain and simple, he knows more about that topic than the CEO does.
So to avoid conflict on those smaller, trivial decisions, start thinking like successful companies do every day. If you know more about decor, you should be making the decisions in that department. Take input from your partner, but make the final decision. If you adopt this new way of decision-making, your partner won’t feel bitter about you not taking his suggestion because he knows you’re going to ultimately make the best decision for the both of you. Alternatively, he should be making the final decision on what he’s best at.
Recognize your strengths and weaknesses. Doing so will allow you and your partner to make decisions more efficiently with way less strain on your relationship.
// image via
Lauren // thepearshape Says
This is really great advice Nichole. My boyfriend and I have always done similar things: I’m the financial planner, he is the tech guru (i.e. I get little input when it came to the size of the tv he bought for our apartment ;) *cough* 72inches *cough*…). Thanks for sharing!
Shannon Says
So true! Thanks for the spot on advice!
Shannon
http://GBOfashion.com
Chelsey Says
Amazing tip!
jennish Says
After being in relationship with my boyfriend for six years, he broke up with me,I did everything possible to bring him back but all was in vain, I wanted him back so much because of the love I have for him, I begged him with everything, I made promises but he refused. I explained my problem to someone online and she suggested that I should rather contact a spell caster that could help me cast a spell to bring him back but I am the type that never believed in spell, I had no choice than to try it, I mailed the spell caster, and he told me there was no problem that everything will be okay before three days, that my ex will return to me before three days, he cast the spell and surprisingly in the second day, it was around 4pm. My ex called me, I was so surprised, I answered the call and all he said was that he was so sorry for everything that happened, that he wanted me to return to him, that he loves me so much. I was so happy and went to him, that was how we started living together happily again. Since then, I have made promise that anybody I know that have a relationship problem, I would be of help to such person by referring him or her to the only real and powerful spell caster who helped me with my own problem. Contact him now for your relationship or marriage problems via this email samodaspellhome@outlook.com. all thanks to Dr samoda regards
Good Luck…
How To Know Your Relationship Works
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My Life Spark Says
Thanks for posting a sweat post about relationships and couples.
Abigail Trenchard Says
Really fantastic advice – thanks for sharing! You’re absolutely right, a successful relationship is about being a team in my opinion and understanding who you both are, what you are good at. If one of you is more organised, or better with money… do the finance and planning, if one of you is more creative… do the present buying and decorating! Obviously you will both have input, but it is about understanding your strengths isn’t it?