We talked about the phenomenon of Analysis/Paralysis, or “paralysis by analysis” in the last blog, which happens when the leader of an organization ceases to be effective because their inner decision-making system has gone haywire. If you missed it, I urge you to take a look.
At the end of that blog, I said that I believe it all comes down to one thing – FEAR. Most leaders are Type A personalities and fear is not a bad thing, generally, for this group. Facing it, fighting it, and winning is often what drives them, but leaders are humans, not robots. Eventually, thriving on fear can turn on you and the challenges of the workspace can get to be too much. It’s OK. Mental health is thankfully, finally taken seriously in more companies worldwide than ever.
Even those leaders who don’t succumb to mental health issues can still go through bouts of fear that they are doing the right thing and if they can make the best decisions for the team, the organization and themselves.
If you find yourself getting paralyzed by fear in decision making, it’s time to take a step back and consider one of these 5 recalibration techniques:
Take Time Out – The oft-repeated stories of the Kennedy Administration taking time out during the day to throw a football around are favorites because if the President of the United States could spend 15 minutes detaching from his day, certainly you can as well. Maybe a 15-minute walk, call home, time spent reading, etc., is what is standing between you and those A+ decisions. The law protects workers with these kinds of breaks because they are healthy. Just because you’re an executive or leader doesn’t mean you’re immune.
Look At the Evidence – What is the decision you’re fearful of making and look at the possible outcomes and what evidence suggests your fears are legitimate, or overblown. This is also a great opportunity to step outside yourself and consider the advice that you would give to someone else in your position who is facing a similar problem. When the issue is hypothetically on someone else’s shoulders, does it seem easier to address?
You’re Not Perfect – You know this is theory, but can you accept it in practice. You will make decisions along the way that will be incorrect. You will make decisions that make sense in the moment but are mistakes further down the road. You can never have all your bases covered. Trying to make sure every last detail has been covered is impossible, so take a moment and recognize that you’re only human, mistakes will be made, and if they are, they will be corrected.
Talk About It – Just because your name is higher on the organizational flowchart than another doesn’t mean they can’t be valuable to bounce ideas around. Think about it. Are you in your position because you, alone, have to come up with the best ideas, or were put in charge to identify and implement the best ideas? If you’re worried that something you’re considering won’t work, talk to someone who understands your fears and can also provide important feedback.
Reward Yourself – Eventually, you’re going to have to decide, take a stand, and pull the trigger. You did it! You survived. Let your hair down and celebrate a job well done. Maybe it’s a stop at the bakery on the way home, or renting a movie, or a long bubble bath. Knowing that there’s a treat at the end of a tough decision might just make it a little easier next time.