What’s indecision costing you?
Are you prone to decision paralysis, and how do you overcome it?
Self-doubt can be your biggest enemy. It makes you look bad. The nagging voice in your head makes you second-guess every move, causing even more unrest and dissatisfaction.
Like many of you, I, too, have wrestled with decision paralysis. I remember a time when I was offered a major international coaching and trainng contract, but I couldn’t decide whether I was ready for what I believed the contract asked for and the dded responsibilities. I did not believe I was good enough -even though all of the evidence demonstrated that I was.
It was a battle and the indecision cost me that contract.
My inner voice, well-intentioned but misguided, would whisper, ‘Let’s do it tomorrow; this will lead to an argument. You will lose money on that venture. Don’t do it.’
I’ve lost many opportunities just because of indecision, and here’s the thing: I did not feel better, having not decided, so I resolved to make decisions and sit with it, and if I continued to be uncomfortable having made the decision, I would revisit it.
This act of taking control, of not allowing indecision to dictate my life, was truly empowering and liberating. It brought a sense of relief, knowing that I wasn’t trapped in a decision forever and had the freedom to adapt and change as needed. It is my prerogative if I change my mind after making the decision.
This could be your liberation too.
But how do you silence those self-doubts? The answer lies in believing in yourself, in valuing that you are enough, know enough, and don’t need any more time than you have at your disposal.
This deep-rooted belief in yourself, your abilities, and the value you bring is the key to overcoming decision paralysis.
Barack Obama said a couple of things regarding decision-making that I fully agree with:
Embrace Imperfection: “You have to make a decision based on whatever information is before you, recognising that you’re not going to have perfect information, and you just do the best you can.”
Trust Your Team: Surround yourself with advisors who will not just tell you what you want to hear. This is crucial because they can provide different viewpoints and challenge your thinking, leading to better decisions.
Own Your Decisions – my favourite: This means creating a process in which you have confidence that whatever decision you make, you’ve made it based on the best information available, and you’re making it in a way that reflects your values and priorities.
It’s about taking full responsibility for the outcomes of your decisions, whether they’re positive or negative.
By nurturing unshakable self-confidence, you equip yourself with a potent psychological tool that unlocks decisiveness.
It empowers you to make tough calls without agonising and, in the process, inspires those around you with your unwavering conviction.
In short, high self-confidence paves the way for more effective leadership. For instance, a confident leader is more likely to inspire trust and respect in their team, leading to better collaboration and productivity.
They are also more willing to take calculated risks, which can lead to innovative solutions and business growth.
In the end, I realised that the more I value myself, the better I am at making decisions and accepting that I let the chips fall where they may.
