Why High Performers Can Struggle With Clarity And Decisiveness

Wow, I just published edition 444 of my newsletter, Sasuga! Tips For You.?

That represents a LOT of tips since I started the newsletter in 2015!

Apparently, the number 444 represents “clarity and decisiveness.”

And after going in circles thinking about the best topic to share with Sasuga! Tips For You readers, I eventually decided to talk about clarity and decisiveness ??????

After all, this is a struggle for many high performers - including me!

How about you?

Why do high performers often struggle with clarity and decisiveness?

1. Perfectionism: We set high standards for ourselves and want the best outcome, so it’s easy to slip into overthinking and decision paralysis
2. Overcommitment: Taking on more responsibilities than we can manage and juggling multiple priorities makes it hard to focus on what matters most
3. External Expectations: Attempting to keep everyone happy - colleagues, clients, family, and friends - makes it difficult to determine a clear path forward
4. Mental Exhaustion: Constant striving can lead to decision fatigue and burnout, reducing our ability to think clearly, prioritize, and act decisively

3 tips to ease pressure and improve professional performance (less effort, more impact)

1. Know it’s normal: Simply recognizing that clarity and decisiveness is a common problem for high performers and that you’re not alone can help!
2. Get some guidance: Talking with a trusted colleague, friend, or coach lifts you up from the dance floor (where you can only see what’s right in front of you) and up onto the balcony (where you can enjoy a much broader perspective)
3. Take a break: Stepping away from problem solving or decision making for a few minutes - or even several days - frees up your mind to see things differently and allows new ideas and answers to come to you

And with that, from tomorrow I’m taking a break from work and going laptopless for 11 days. I’ll admit, this is a step out of my comfort zone!

If you’re interested, stay tuned and I’ll let you know how it went in a couple of weeks!

Have you ever gone laptopless for an extended period? I'd love to know how it went???

?? Photo thanks to TopTia Photography

#clarity #decisions #LessEffortMoreImpact #womenssuccess #mindsetmatters

??Thanks for reading. I'm Helen Iwata - a bilingual Brit with a 3-decade career in Japan. I help busy business professionals - especially women - to embrace “less effort and more impact,” so that they can do brilliant work without sacrificing their personal lives.

?? Interested to read more? You might enjoy my free weekly newsletter, Sasuga! Tips For You, where I share practical techniques, stories, and resources: https://sasugacommunications.mykajabi.com/STFY