Senior business leaders often make decisions that can have ramifications throughout their entire organization, impacting their team, partners, vendors and/or clients. Working under this kind of pressure, it’s understandable that many leaders struggle with overthinking as they strive to make the best decisions possible for all parties involved and deliver the most value to the various stakeholders they serve.
Below, members of Forbes Coaches Council share smart ways leaders can stay centered and be less indecisive when faced with difficult choices to make. Follow their advice to move through the decision-making process with increased confidence and clarity.
1. Gather Information, Then Make A Move
A bias toward action focuses on acting on ideas and beginning to put changes in motion, rather than concentrating on discussing potential ideas and changes. Arm yourself with the facts, not just data. Data is synthetic; facts are irreducible. Go to where the work is done, observe what is really happening and leave with facts. Now, focus on action and stop debating. – Nigel Thurlow, The Flow Consortium.
2. Step Back And Take A Different Point Of View
Perspective shifting is the powerful technique of stepping back from a situation to view it from various angles or viewpoints. It’s a practical method leaders use to gain insights, broaden their understanding and alleviate the pressure of overthinking to gain balance and clarity. – Sheila Goldgrab, Goldgrab Leadership Coaching.
3. Just Start, Focusing On One Thing
Imagine a kitchen sink full of dirty dishes. It smells. Others in the house notice it and comment. It’s your turn to do the washing up. You’re imagining starting with the forks, or plates or glasses, taking it all out and beginning again. You’re thinking about what to clean each of the things with: a brush, a cloth and so on. None of it matters. All that matters is that you begin. Just start—one thing, then another. – Julian Lighton, Moo Pie Advisors Inc.
4. Visualize Different Outcomes
Consider the potential consequences of overanalyzing. Imagine the worst-case scenario and assess which decision aligns with your leadership identity. By visualizing outcomes and their implications, you gain clarity, enabling confident and effective decision making that reflects your leadership values and moves you into action. – Martha Jeifetz, MJ – Executive Coaching & Advising.
5. Write Down And Analyze Your Needs And Concerns
When you get stuck while making a decision, step back for a few minutes and ask yourself, “What is my need and source of concern here?” Write that down. Now, brainstorm all of the questions you have about the source of your concern. Notice the patterns, and ask yourself, “What is my primary source of confidence?” Then, choose your secondary source of confidence, and approach the challenge again with a fresh and confident perspective. – Svetlana Dimovski, PhD, ICF-PCC, NBC-HWC, Dharma Growth, LLC.
6. ‘Begin With The End In Mind’
I’m a big believer, as both a coach and coachee, in Stephen Covey’s concept of “begin with the end in mind,” which allows us to focus on what success looks like as well as the steps needed to obtain it in the future. Centering on what we want to accomplish can simplify our steps toward our goals and eliminate the noise as we are either moving toward it or not. If not, it allows us to refocus. – Bryan Powell, Executive Coaching Space.
7. Leverage The 10-10-10 Rule
The 10-10-10 rule is a decision-making exercise for leaders. It prompts consideration of the consequences in 10 minutes, 10 months and 10 years, aiding in prioritization and balancing short-term and long-term goals. This helps leaders focus on what truly matters in the broader context of their personal and professional lives. – Stephan Lendi, Newbury Media & Communications GmbH.
8. Focus On The Present Moment
Practice mindfulness. By focusing on the present moment, leaders can quiet the noise in their minds and cultivate clarity. Incorporate breathing exercises, meditation or journaling into your routine. Set clear decision-making criteria, and consider the impact of analysis paralysis. Trust your instincts, seek input from trusted advisors and embrace the idea that not all decisions will be perfect. – Jonathan H. Westover, Ph.D, Human Capital Innovations.
9. Use The 5-3-1 Decision Matrix
One reliable exercise is the 5-3-1 decision matrix: List five core values, choose three strategic goals and prioritize one primary outcome. It can help you streamline your decision-making process, anchoring each choice in your core values and strategic objectives while prioritizing the most significant outcome. The matrix also aligns decisions with values and goals, fostering clarity and decisiveness. – Alla Adam, Alla Adam Coaching.
10. Stop Chasing The Perfect Option
When I started my business, decision making was my biggest challenge, causing so much anxiety. Later, I realized that indecision can cause damage too, and there is often no perfect option. I stopped chasing for the perfect option. I write down all my options on paper, get it out of my head and make the best decision at this moment, not the perfect decision. This mindset helps me move forward. – Minna Hu, AI Business Coach Inc.
11. Use Your Head, Heart And Gut
Ask yourself these three questions: 1. “What do I think about this decision?” 2. “What do I feel is the right thing to do?” and 3. “What is my gut reaction to this situation?” Using the head, heart and gut often uncovers our best course of action. – Erica McCurdy, McCurdy Solutions Group LLC.
12. Outline Potential Consequences
For leaders struggling with overanalyzing every decision, applying a decision matrix that outlines the various consequences of each option can be an effective technique. This exercise promotes more focused and decisive decision making, allowing the leader to concentrate on what will truly have a long-term impact. – José Luís González Rodriguez, ActionCOACH.
13. Adopt The 5-5-5 Rule
Adopting the 5-5-5 rule means giving yourself five minutes to analyze the situation, five minutes to listen to your intuition and five minutes to make a decision. This structured approach helps strike a balance between thoughtful consideration and tapping into intuitive insights, fostering more centered and decisive decision making. – Dani Watson, The Clique
14. Use Two-By-Two Matrices
Use critical-thinking tools—for example, “urgent versus important,” “ease versus impact” and “cost versus benefit.” These two-by-two matrices remove bias and preference for more robust (not perfect, as there is no such thing) decisions across two axes, such as cost versus benefit. Tease out those choices that will provide better bang for your buck. You can also involve your team to see how they see it and gain another perspective. – Ricky Muddimer, Thinking Focus.
15. Use The Five-Why Analysis Exercise
A useful exercise is the Five-Why Analysis. When facing a decision, ask “why” up to five times to drill down to the core issue. This method clarifies the decision’s purpose and consequences, aiding in more decisive and centered decision making. – Don Pippin, area|Talent.
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José Luis González, Forbes Coaches Council Member
