Decision Fatigue and Willpower

Do you remember the last time that you bought a house.? Or a car.?

Or anything significant, that required consideration of many factors, multiple stakeholders and more decision makers than just yourself.

And what about any typical day in the business where staff and maybe even customers are beating your figurative door down, demanding a decision!

Being under constant pressure to decide can have a serious effect on the number and quality of our calls and therefore the effectiveness of our leadership.? John Tierney coined the phrase decision fatigue to depict the apparent deterioration of people’s decision over multiple iterations in an extended period.

How does decision fatigue show up in any of us?

• Erratic behaviour—where did that come from?
• Further decision avoidance—closing the door, shuttering the windows!
• Impulsive behaviour—jumping to a conclusion without due consideration.
• Lacking in persistence—dropping the ball at first contact.
• Opting for the default position—"let them do what they want to do”.
• Passivity—going limp, lying doggo.
• Planning avoidance—failing to prepare for the inevitable.
• Procrastination—loading up with less relevant tasks.
• Short-sighted behaviours—an impulse buy at the checkout.

Being able to make good decisions—taking all matters into account—with a cool and calm demeanour inspires confidence in a leader.? As does a seemingly snap decision with enthusiasm—taking all matters into account.? If we are in a position of formal authority or informal influence, people will be relying on us for quality decision-making and we owe them nothing less.? And our reputation will depend on it.? Weak and poor decision-making will mean the destruction of any leadership credibility.

Assured and fair decision-making will boost morale and enhance our leadership stocks.? It will also draw customers and attract new suppliers.

And we need to be consistent throughout the day and from day to day and week to week.

So what to do about it?

There is something to be said for the sprint in leadership, under certain circumstances.? But most decision-making is like a marathon.? A high level of performance is required over extended periods—we need stamina and we need to keep our wits about us.? And we certainly don’t want to end any given day with a stagger and a slump over the finishing line.? Yes, we will be tired, but not burnt out, and we need to recharge and be ready for the next day.

Structuring our behaviours to influence our external environment will set us up for success.? Here are some:

1.????? Go to bed and rise at the same time each day—allow for 7-8 hours.? Sleep deprivation will undermine your decision-making like almost nothing else.

2.????? Practice a morning routine—rise early, prepare a good breakfast (for others too), complete your ablutions, read / watch the news, do stretches.

3.????? Reduce clutter—keep our work area (at home and in the office) simple and easy to access.? Clear our inbox twice a day.

4.????? Convert our to-do lists—plan out our day in blocks of time for our most important tasks.? If priorities change, move the blocks.? Delegate. ?

5.????? Avoid imbibing, ingesting, injecting or inhaling addictive and harmful substances--they will undermine our decision-making like almost nothing else.

6.????? Have a regular exercise routine that challenges us, without over-extending.? This will enhance our mind and extend our physical endurance.? And we will feel wonderful.

7.????? Ensure that we have the best nutrition—seeking medical advice if necessary. A poor diet will undermine our decision-making like almost nothing else!?

8.????? Create and employ decision-making methodologies—one for the operational, another for the strategic.? Coach everyone else to do the same.? Make it our culture.

And lastly, the application of our will can enhance our performance like almost nothing else!? Each of the above contribute to our ability to keep going when the pressure builds up and—if we are seeking ?the comparative—when others have fallen by the wayside.

Last week I wrote about positive thinking: Our thoughts can create our reality.?

And Carol Dweck has found that when we believe we have willpower in abundance, we can overcome decision fatigue.?

We may instead become decision invigorated.

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Next week:? Daniel Kennedy, Leadership with Energy and BOLA

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About the Author

Jeff Bell?is Principal of executive consultancy ResultsWise in Perth, WA.?To boost your leadership, ask Jeff about Band of Leaders Australia (BOLA) [email protected] and his consulting, coaching and strategy facilitation, or his Advanced Leadership Course [email protected] Mobile 0439 988 662.