The Paralyzed Decision Maker: Understanding the Complexity of Decision Making

Decision making is a fundamental part of our daily lives. From choosing the perfect outfit to picking a restaurant for a dinner date, we make TONS of decisions every day.

An article from Psychology Today reported that every adult makes about 35,000 decisions per day.? 35,000!!!?

I know.? I was shocked too.??

The trouble isn’t in the number of decisions that come in front of us.?

The trouble is when we don’t make the decisions we need to make.??

If you have ever felt so paralyzed with indecision that you absolutely could not make a decision regardless of its simplicity, you’re not alone.? We’ve all been there, and it can be mentally and emotionally exhausting.

The psychological strain that comes with making decisions can be overwhelming.?

Many people don't trust their gut instincts and instead turn to external factors that only add more confusion, like asking friends or even strangers on internet forums.?

Relationships, careers, and finances are especially challenging areas where making the wrong choice may have a higher cost.? People tend to spiral into analysis paralysis with those.

If you want to make decisions faster and have absolute certainty you’re making the right decisions, keep reading …??

I’ll explain why making a decision can feel so hard, why staying neutral can have negative effects, and provide tips to help improve your decision-making skills.

Let’s start with the factors that make decisions feel so difficult, shall we???

For starters, we're overwhelmed by choice

In today's world, we have more choices than ever before. When it comes to something as simple as choosing what to order at Starbuck, we have dozens of options … most of which aren’t even on the menu.??

And, when it comes to bigger decisions, such as choosing a path to the wealth we want or a life partner, the number of choices can be truly overwhelming.??

Lucky for me, there were only 6.5 billion people on earth when I met my wife in 2005.? I imagine I’d have a tougher time sifting through the additional 1.3 billion people sharing the globe with me today if I hadn’t made the decision to go with her way back then.?

This abundance of choice and seemingly infinite options leads us to second-guess ourselves and prevents us from confidently making decisions. We may hesitate for days, weeks, or even months before committing to a decision.?

That means we’re stuck in limbo, unable to move forward with our lives.

Next up, it’s become really hard to compare options.??

Should you spend your time and energy finding the perfect candidate for the position you have open or look for an AI tool that will do the job?? Both options might have merit, but how can you possibly compare the two?? Both are untested in your company.? Both have pro’s and con’s.?

You’ve undoubtedly seen one of those benefits comparison sheets when considering a few different options for a product or service.? Even that information can make it harder to decide because we start to question if we really need a specific feature of one that the other doesn’t have.??

Maybe even more than the last two reasons, this one is the primary driver of indecision …

We are afraid of making the wrong choice.?

With so many choices available to us, it's only natural that we would be afraid of making the wrong choice. After all, if we choose the wrong drink at Starbucks, we might not like the taste.?

But if we choose the wrong career, we could end up miserable for years to come. The fear of making the wrong choice can paralyze us and prevent us from making any decision at all.

The irony is that when we make no decision, it gets worse for us because being stagnant means someone else is going to snatch the opportunity right out from under us.

Of course, there are TONS of other factors, but those are the big three I see in my work.?

Let’s get on with the part about how to make better decisions.

Many successful business leaders in history made decisions with conviction regardless of the circumstances.?

Steve Jobs was famous for his gut instincts and not overthinking his decisions.?

Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician, and physicist, borrowed from Mr. Occam’s razor, “when faced with two options that are the same, go with the simpler one,” finding simplicity in complex situations.?

Decisions can be daunting, but remember, successful leaders have been making bold decisions for centuries.??

Consider the possibility that what made them successful leaders was their willingness to make bold decisions.

On the flip side, when we fail to make decisions, we tend to become non-committal, which creates unhealthy patterns in our lives.?

Indecision can lead to unwanted consequences like missed opportunities, stunted growth, and resentment towards ourselves (or others who had the courage to make the decision we wouldn’t).?

The longer we remain indecisive, the harder it is to get unstuck, creating a never-ending cycle of self-doubt, lack of motivation, and low self-esteem.

Making a well-informed decision only requires gathering adequate information.??

For starters, it would be good to know what your ideal outcome on the other side of the decision is.? I mention that because most people skip that step in my experience.?

People often falsely think they need more time to make a decision, using the excuse “let me sleep on it.”?

But time isn’t what’s needed to make a decision.? What we really need is more information about the situation.?

Gathering all the relevant facts, weighing the pros and cons, and assessing the potential outcomes will provide the necessary knowledge needed to make the right decision.?

Three essential pieces of information that will help inform your decision are your goals, your needs, and your values.

Building confidence in your decision-making abilities begins with self-awareness. Be honest with yourself and reflect on what is stopping you from making a decision.?

Sometimes it’s fear of the unknown, fear of failure, or a lack of confidence based on your past decisions. Regardless of the underlying cause, gaining self-awareness will help you identify it and overcome it.?

Decision making can be a complex process that can occur in all aspects of our lives.?

Overcoming indecision requires an understanding of what is holding you back, gaining self-awareness, gathering relevant information, and acting confidently.?

The fear of making the wrong decision can be paralyzing, but staying neutral can have negative effects.?

Remember, the more information you have, the better equipped you will be to make the right decision.?

Don’t let indecision stunt your personal or professional growth – empower yourself with confidence to make the right choices.