Put aside Perfectionism
After all, it's much easier to wrap your head around and take action towards a single next step rather than trying to project months or years into the future.
Perfectionism is one of the biggest blockers to swift, effective decision-making because it operates on faulty all-or-nothing thinking. For example, perfectionism can lead you to believe that if you don't make the "correct" choice (as if there is only one right option), then you are a failure. Or that you must know everything, anticipate every eventuality, and have a thorough plan in place before making a move. Trying to weigh every possible outcome and consideration is paralyzing.
To curb this tendency, ask yourself questions like:
- Which decision will have the biggest positive impact on my top priorities?
- Of all the possible people I could please or displease, which one or two people do I least want to disappoint?
- What is one thing I could do today that would bring me closer to my goal?
- Based on what I know and the information I have at this moment, what's the best next step?
Right-size the problem
Intuition works like a mental pattern matching game. The brain considers a situation, quickly assesses all your experiences, and then makes the best decision given the context. This automatic process is faster than rational thought, which means intuition is a necessary decision-making tool when time is short and traditional data is not available. In fact, research shows that pairing intuition with analytical thinking helps you make better, faster, and more accurate decisions and gives you more confidence in your choices than relying on intellect alone. In one study, car buyers who used only careful analysis were ultimately happy with their purchases about a quarter of the time. Meanwhile, those who made intuitive purchases were happy 60 percent of the time. That's because relying on rapid cognition, or thin-slicing, allows the brain to make wise decisions without overthinking.
Some decisions are worth mulling over, while others are not. Before you make a call, write down what goals, priorities, or people in your life will be impacted. This will help you differentiate between what's meaningful and what's not worth obsessing over.
Likewise, if you're worried about the prospect of a decision bombing, try the 10/10/10 test. When the prospect of falling flat on your face seizes you, think about how you'll feel about the decision 10 weeks, 10 months, or 10 years from now? It's likely that the choice will be inconsequential or that you won't even remember it was a big deal. Your answers can help you put things in perspective and rally the motivation you need to take action.
Leverage the underestimated power of intuition