Conquer Decision Fatigue: 3 Proven Strategies for Leaders to Make Impactful Decisions

Welcome to the 4th Edition of the?Grow & Lead?Newsletter!

Happy New Year,?Grow & Lead?community! As we step into 2025, I wish you a year brimming with opportunities, growth, and impactful decisions. Can you believe it? Our community has grown to over?500 subscribers—a major milestone! I’m deeply grateful for your support, readership and I’m thrilled to share that a special surprise is in store for all our subscribed members. Stay tuned for more details soon!

As humans, our journey is full of choices that shape the course of our growth and impact. In this edition, we’re tackling a challenge we all face:?decision fatigue.?We’ll explore:

1.???? What is decision fatigue?

2.???? How it impacts our decision-making?

3.???? Three proven strategies to make better, high-impact decisions.

Why Decision Fatigue Matters?

Our lives are shaped by the decisions we make every day, but for leaders, the stakes can be particularly high. I personally experienced this when I made one of the most important decisions of my life: leaving my full-time role at McKinsey to become an independent consultant and coach. The process was overwhelming, and I grappled with decision fatigue at every turn.

With guidance from mentors and coaches, I found clarity and made the right choice. This experience reminded me that leaders often face decisions with far-reaching consequences - whether it’s restructuring, hiring, or making the right R&D investments.

Through my work with global leaders, I’ve identified three common scenarios that delay decision-making:

1.?? Mental exhaustion: Feeling too drained to analyse and finalise decisions - hiring, talent development.

2.? Personal challenges: Struggling with emotionally charged issues - job loss, unclear roles.

3.??Uncertainty about outcomes: Lacking clarity on whether the decision will achieve the desired results - R&D investments, strategic decisions.

These scenarios are symptoms of?decision fatigue, a psychological phenomenon where prolonged decision-making reduces the quality of our choices. Recognizing these patterns is the first step to overcoming them.

How Decision Fatigue Impacts Leaders?

Key research findings highlight its impact:

• Decline in Decision Quality: Studies show decision quality declines as more decisions are made throughout the day, leading to suboptimal choices (Source:?Lead You First).
• Burnout: Nearly 7 in 10 executives report that burnout affects their decision-making ability (Source:?Forbes).
• Behavioural Effects: Decision fatigue can lead to avoidance, impulsive choices, or reliance on biases. For instance, judges are more likely to make unfavourable rulings when fatigued (Source:?Wikipedia).

A senior leader I worked with once admitted:?“I don’t have the time; I have to make this hiring decision right now. It’s a hard decision.”?That moment of truth revealed how decision fatigue was impacting their ability to make sound judgments.

Addressing Decision Fatigue: Practical Solutions

Research estimates that we make around?35,000 decisions daily. Leaders need strategies to protect their energy and focus on high-quality decisions. Here are three strategies that have worked for my clients:

1. Empower Your Team and Build Accountability

Empowering your team to make decisions reduces your cognitive load. One client shared:?“When my team is empowered and supported, they make better decisions. My role is to coach them, build trust, and step in for the tough calls.”

As Roy Baumeister explains in?Willpower, decision-making drains self-control reserves. By delegating decisions, leaders conserve mental energy for strategic priorities. Trusting your team fosters accountability and creates a stronger decision-making culture.

2. Establish a Clear Team Foundation

A team aligned with a clear vision and shared values makes more consistent decisions. One client found that fragmented values led to inconsistent outcomes. After realigning the team’s foundation, decision-making became smoother and more efficient.

According to?Willpower, clear goals and aligned values reduce the mental strain of decision-making. With a unified purpose, decisions are easier and faster to make.

3. Prioritize High-Impact Decisions

Not all decisions are equal. Focus on high-stakes decisions when your energy is highest (e.g., mornings or after breaks). Seek broader perspectives on strategic decisions from your stakeholders, coaches and mentors when you feel stuck. Sometimes, you need the external push to make informed decisions.

Baumeister’s research shows willpower is finite, and decision fatigue worsens as the day progresses. Scheduling critical decisions during peak energy times leads to better outcomes.

Reflection Guide for Better Decision-Making -

As you approach your decisions this year, consider these questions:

• What kinds of decisions I am making daily, weekly, and monthly?
• What is the quality of these decisions?
• What’s one change I could make to improve my decision-making process?

Bringing It All Together

When you empower your team, align your vision, and prioritize high-impact decisions, you’ll conserve the mental energy needed to lead strategically. You’ll feel the difference in your leadership, relationships and decision-making quality.

So, give it a try—what’s one decision that has shaped your leadership journey?

Curious to hear your thoughts and comments. Keep the conversation going..

If this resonates with you, let’s connect. Share your ideas on topics you would like to read about.

I’m opening up slots for?1:1 coaching and group coaching?in Jan'25. Glad to support you in shaping your personal and professional growth. Send me a DM to start the conversation.

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