202109090909 Decision paralysis

When we're paralyzed while making a decision, we might subconsciously know that there's a vital piece of evidence missing that would weigh into the decision.¹ In these situations, there's not much more conversation that's needed. This is the time for thinking. Go for a long bike ride, sweat, work, and think. Submerge the idea into the depths of your brain where your experience is speaking to you, trying to hint at a solution. Let it take root and grow back into the sunlight (202109090947 Idea gardening).

But maybe, we just need to decide and there isn't anything more to it.¹ Your brain might be hoping for another piece of information where none exists. As leaders, we must 202104291527 Live in the ambiguity and make decisions with imperfect information in 202109090945 Wicked learning environments. Over-analyzing the situation is a form of 202106221150 Procrastination driven by the difficult, stressful, ambiguous, and unstructured nature of these situations (202106221122 Procrastination is triggered by emotional aversions.

Either way, making a decision causes a great sense of relief and a desire to get to work.¹ Often, even if we make the wrong decision it turns out to be more reversible or equal than we build it up to be in our heads. Making any decision can be viewed as forward progress even if we end up feeling like it was the wrong decision.

The decision you made is entirely yours, and while the work preceding a hard decision can feel like an immense and endless chore, decisions and their subsequent consequences are, in fact, a privilege of leadership.¹