Sound Decisions: How to Make Every Decision the Right One
Make every decision
The right decision
My dad used to say I could "research the hell out of anything."
He wasn't one to swear, so that says something.
I used to make every decision a big decision. I didn't realize it at the time, but it was exhausting.
I'd spend hours pouring over details, gathering the facts, comparing this and that.
It turns out that many of those decisions didn't truly impact my life in any significant way. They didn't make or break me, and they didn't dictate my happiness or success.
They were stepping stones that I happened to treat like mountains.
If you've ever found yourself procrastinating, waffling, or just plain frozen when you needed to make a decision, this blog is for you.
Barriers to Decision-Making
Decisions can come in all shapes and sizes. Some seem frivolous; others, monumental.
But it all boils down to making a choice, and a remarkable number of hurdles can prevent us from moving forward in that process.
When you can name what's happening, it makes it easier to work around it. Let's explore.
Psychological Barriers to Decision-Making
Fear of Failure - I suspect this is a big one for all of us healthcare professionals who have spent our lives striving to be the best. We get stuck thinking there’s one right answer, and the anxiety of making the wrong choice can be paralyzing.
Overwhelm - Whether you're facing too many options (or searching them out, as I often did) or finding the information necessary to make the decision too complex, overwhelm can keep you stalled.
Procrastination - There are many reasons for procrastination, many of which overlap with other items on this list. But it's important to remember that delaying and putting off making a choice is in itself a form of deciding.
Imposter Syndrome - Unfortunately, this phenomenon is common and can lead you to doubt your ability to make wise and sound judgments despite evidence to the contrary.
Emotional Barriers to Decision-Making
Loss Aversion - This one's simple. The fear of losing something or ending up worse off than we are can be a powerful influencer in our (non-)decision-making.
Regret Avoidance - We've all experienced the uncomfortable weight of regret. It makes sense that we want to circumvent it if we can. Unfortunately, in our attempt to do so, we can find ourselves circling a decision rather than acting.
These factors can slow us down and keep us stuck in limbo, resulting in the loss of valuable time and energy.
The Consequences of Indecision
While we're busy reviewing the pros and cons of the dilemma we're facing, the repercussions of our hesitation may be impacting us in subtle or significant ways. This is especially true if, as was the case for me, indecision has become a habit.
The weight of an unmade decision can increase stress and anxiety. When you're already functioning in a high-pressure, high-demand environment, the added tension may push you over the tipping point.
Your inability to make decisions can lead to a self-reinforcing pattern of inefficiency and procrastination. This, in turn, can contribute to lowered self-esteem and feelings of inefficacy.
As your confidence in your ability to make good choices for yourself wanes, you may doubt yourself and be less likely to seek out new experiences, resulting in missed personal and professional growth and opportunities.
The combined effects of procrastination, hesitancy, and decreased confidence have the potential to create a negative impact on relationships, too (with yourself and others).
A delayed decision may be harmless. Alternatively, it can result in the very consequence you feared in the first place, especially when deferring decisions becomes a habit.
It's time to cure the paralysis.
Overcoming Decision Paralysis
Take a deep breath.
Try some of these strategies when your thoughts are ping-ponging back and forth between the different paths you should take.
Set Boundaries and Deadlines
Give yourself a specific timeframe for making your choice, and then honor it. Having a time boundary keeps you from spinning in endless deliberation.
Recognize that not all decisions deserve equal attention or carry the same weight. Give your energy to those that are critical and start learning to delegate, postpone, or release those that are less important.
Finally, remember that the perfect decision is most often a unicorn. Every choice you make is accompanied by good and bad. Recognize that "good enough" is often the best choice.
Gather Information with Discernment
Put yourself on an information diet. You want to be well-informed, but you don't need all of the information before taking action. To avoid overwhelm, be judicious in your data consumption.
Make a point to identify the most relevant information needed. What's pertinent varies from situation to situation, so intentionally consider what's essential.
You can also sometimes shortcut your deliberations by enlisting the help of others. However, I stress that you should always take others' opinions with a grain of salt. Relying heavily on outside voices can equally erode your confidence. Trust that, most often, you know what's best for you and are capable of making sound decisions.
Strengthen Your Confidence in Your Decision-Making Capabilities
Replace thoughts of "I don't know" and "I'm not sure." Stop the narrative of self-doubt that may be swirling in your head. Even if, at the moment, you don't feel you know the answer, you can shift to thoughts that create possibility. Instead of defeatist thoughts, try, "I know I've made good decisions before, and I can do it again now," or "I'm sure I can make it work no matter what I choose."
Recall all the decisions you've made in your life that have worked out for the best. Trust your track record. Likewise, start making a habit of not overthinking the less consequential decisions.
Perhaps most importantly, acknowledge that even "bad" decisions present an opportunity for learning and growth, and "good" decisions are never perfect. Our lives are constantly in flux. More often than not, we can course-correct when needed.
Minimize the Fear of Failure
Focus on what you can control rather than burning up time and energy on things that are completely out of your hands.
Acknowledge that preparation often makes the unknown less scary. Consider your "if, then" scenarios. If you feel more confident that you've done what you can to plan for the consequences, regardless of your decision, following one path or the other doesn't feel as intimidating.
Lastly, learn to deal with uncertainty. We can never plan for every variable. Some decisions involve risk no matter what you do. Don't let those risks paralyze you. Mindfulness and practicing acceptance can be great tools for releasing some of the anxiety that bubbles up.
Though it may seem counterintuitive, you can make every decision the "right" decision.
Make Every Decision the Right Decision
Once you've made a decision, move on.
Research suggests we make 35,000 decisions in a day. Whether your decisions are conscious or not, every choice can lead you in a hundred different directions.
The possibilities are infinite.
When it comes to decision-making, it's not necessarily about achieving the "ideal" outcome every time. Rather, it's important to realize you have the ability to make the results of your choices work for you.
Take the opportunity to glean valuable insights for future decisions. What lessons have you learned? How can you apply them in the future?
Being careful not to over-analyze (remember the significant number of variables outside your control), you can take a structured approach to identifying what went wrong, what you might've done differently, and what you can take away from the current experience.
By adopting a growth mindset, you can find opportunities for learning and growth in every outcome. Although it may not be immediately and readily apparent, seek the gift in your circumstances.
Rarely will the outcome of any decision be entirely "wrong." Employ gratitude to discover the subtle and not-so-subtle positive byproducts of your decision. If you look closely, you'll find them.
Use your creativity and ingenuity to minimize any negative impacts of your decision. How can you use this outcome to help you become more adaptable and flexible? Starting where you are now, what alternative paths can help redirect you to the outcome you desire?
Finally, take advantage of this opportunity to create acceptance around uncertainty and disappointment. Doing so doesn't mean you agree with or approve of what's happening. It does mean you conserve your valuable energy by not wasting it wishing things were different or arguing against reality.
You can use these strategies to start putting seemingly negative outcomes to work for you.
Whether you're feeling paralyzed by indecision or feeling regret over past decisions, I hope these insights and suggestions have helped shift how you think about decision-making.
I think Drew Barrymore said it well:
"I never regret anything. Because every little detail of your life is what made you into who you are in the end."
You've gotten to where you are today through the quality of your decisions.
Trust that you have exactly what you need to make the right choice.
Charity is a physician and burnout coach helping introverts in healthcare escape feelings of apathy, irritability, and resentment brought on by the increasing demands and decreasing rewards of medicine.
She uses her 20 years of experience in clinical medicine combined with coaching to help introverts discover ways to be diligent, thoughtful clinicians while prioritizing their needs and protecting their energy. She wants you to know you don’t have to feel guilty for wanting a thriving life inside and outside of medicine.