A Psychological Perspective in High-Stakes Career Decision Making

At some point, we will all have to make a major ‘high-stakes’ decision relating to our career. Whether we are considering a job change, relocating to a different country, or starting a new career path, these decisions will have a significant impact on our lives, which is why they are often so complex and can be challenging to make.

While cognitive approaches to decision-making, such as weighing pros and cons, can be helpful, they should not be relied on. For every pro, there is a con of equal weighting, and for every decision, there is a knock-on impact on finances, family, and well-being.

Rethinking the Decision-Making Process

A better approach is to use intuition as a data point. Our intuition, or gut feeling, is often dismissed as unreliable, but it can be a valuable source of information. Paying attention to our body's response to different options can help us identify potential sources of stress and anxiety that we may need to address before making a decision. However, intuition should not be used in isolation, as it can be mistimed or misplaced. Instead, it should be used alongside other data points to inform our decisions.

Another important factor in decision-making is how we frame our decisions. When we view decisions in terms of right or wrong, we create unnecessary stress and pressure. There is rarely a clear-cut right or wrong answer when it comes to high-stakes career decisions. Instead, we need to recognize that each option comes with its own benefits and costs. By reframing our decisions in this way, we can reduce stress and make decisions more effectively.

Trusted others can also provide valuable support and guidance. This may include a coach, family member, or spouse. Select your counsel wisely to avoid bias, and be aware of your own blind spots in decision-making.?

Finally, it's important to consider our values when making high-stakes decisions. What kind of person do we want to be remembered as? Does our decision reflect our highest and wisest self? When we are led by our values, we can rarely go wrong.

However, we also need to be aware of the potential for uncomfortable emotions to drive our decisions. Change can be scary, and the unknown can produce anxiety, but avoiding uncomfortable emotions should rarely be the driving force behind our decisions. As Grandmother Willow from Pocahontas said, "Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one."

High-stakes career decisions can be challenging, but there are many approaches we can take to make them more manageable. As with any decision, it's essential to give ourselves the time and space we need to weigh our options carefully and make the best choice for ourselves and our careers.

Dr. Robert Chandler

Clinical Psychologist

Arabian Business,

Wed 17 Aug 2022