How to be DECISIVE Even If Indecisiveness is in Your Genes
(Use these psychological tools to become less anxious and more confident)
= THREAD =
(Use these psychological tools to become less anxious and more confident)
= THREAD =
"Not making a decision is the surest way to ensure failure."
- Jory MacKay
Everyone fears making decisions.
But it becomes a problem when you let that fear paralyze you.
The only thing guaranteed to happen if you’re indecisive - nothing.
So how to become more decisive?
- Jory MacKay
Everyone fears making decisions.
But it becomes a problem when you let that fear paralyze you.
The only thing guaranteed to happen if you’re indecisive - nothing.
So how to become more decisive?
Before going into the "How", here's why you become indecisive:
1. You're not confident in your capabilities
2. You're suffering from decision fatigue
3. You don’t want to take responsibility for the outcome
4. You think there’s a better option out there
5. You're procrastinating
1. You're not confident in your capabilities
2. You're suffering from decision fatigue
3. You don’t want to take responsibility for the outcome
4. You think there’s a better option out there
5. You're procrastinating
Figure out which one is your bane.
Eliminate the bad habits around it and make concrete plans to tackle them.
And now here's how you become more decisive:
Eliminate the bad habits around it and make concrete plans to tackle them.
And now here's how you become more decisive:
TL;DR
- Embrace Uncertainty
- Understand the Scope
- Set a Realistic Deadline
- Use the 40/70 rule
- Remove Options from the Table
- Make a few bad Decisions on Purpose
- Bring in a Barbarian
- Let go of the Illusion of Control
- Stop Asking for Reassurance
- Embrace Uncertainty
- Understand the Scope
- Set a Realistic Deadline
- Use the 40/70 rule
- Remove Options from the Table
- Make a few bad Decisions on Purpose
- Bring in a Barbarian
- Let go of the Illusion of Control
- Stop Asking for Reassurance
1. Embrace Uncertainty
Human nature fears uncertainty.
Evolution has wired it into us.
And it's a hard instinct to shake.
So what to do about it?
Some uncertainty will always be present in every decision.
The trick is to embrace it instead of letting it paralyze you.
Human nature fears uncertainty.
Evolution has wired it into us.
And it's a hard instinct to shake.
So what to do about it?
Some uncertainty will always be present in every decision.
The trick is to embrace it instead of letting it paralyze you.
“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown”
- H.P. Lovecraft
- H.P. Lovecraft
2. Understand the Scope
Not every decision is life-or-death.
So stop treating them as such.
Ask yourself:
- Does it really need to be "optimal"?
- Is it enough to just meet the bare minimum?
- Is this decision reversible?
It will help you realize if it's really worth the fuss
Not every decision is life-or-death.
So stop treating them as such.
Ask yourself:
- Does it really need to be "optimal"?
- Is it enough to just meet the bare minimum?
- Is this decision reversible?
It will help you realize if it's really worth the fuss
3. Set a Realistic (but strict) Deadline
Parkinson’s Law says that work will expand to fill the time given to it.
So commit to a deadline.
Tell yourself you will come up with a decision within that - whatever that may be.
Ironically, it makes you more decisive.
Parkinson’s Law says that work will expand to fill the time given to it.
So commit to a deadline.
Tell yourself you will come up with a decision within that - whatever that may be.
Ironically, it makes you more decisive.
4. Use the 40/70 rule
You think more information will help you make better decisions.
And it does - to a point.
But then it only makes you more indecisive.
Use the 40/70 rule to break free of information overload.
You think more information will help you make better decisions.
And it does - to a point.
But then it only makes you more indecisive.
Use the 40/70 rule to break free of information overload.
It's a rule coined by the former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.
"To stay active and quickly make decisions with “enough” information, you should start thinking about it at 40% and make a choice at 70%."
Decisions will come easy.
"To stay active and quickly make decisions with “enough” information, you should start thinking about it at 40% and make a choice at 70%."
Decisions will come easy.
5. Remove Options from the Table
Psychologist Barry Schwartz says that too many choices lead to indecision.
It can even lead to depression and loneliness.
So do yourself a favor and remove a few options.
The decision will be quick and the commitment will be better.
Psychologist Barry Schwartz says that too many choices lead to indecision.
It can even lead to depression and loneliness.
So do yourself a favor and remove a few options.
The decision will be quick and the commitment will be better.
6. Make a few bad Decisions on Purpose
You're afraid of making decisions because you are afraid of making mistakes.
This comes from your conditioning.
Maybe you were criticized heavily for making mistakes when you were young?
So how do you get rid of this phobia?
You're afraid of making decisions because you are afraid of making mistakes.
This comes from your conditioning.
Maybe you were criticized heavily for making mistakes when you were young?
So how do you get rid of this phobia?
Make some mistakes on purpose.
Get yourself inoculated against the irrational fear of them.
Teach your brain that mistakes are nothing to be worried about.
You will definitely survive and live to tell about them.
Get yourself inoculated against the irrational fear of them.
Teach your brain that mistakes are nothing to be worried about.
You will definitely survive and live to tell about them.
7. Bring in a Barbarian
Seek out help from an outsider.
Whom you bring in doesn’t really matter.
It can be a friend, colleague, or mentor.
This approach is known as "bringing a barbarian”.
Often, the awkward truths they speak force you to overcome your indecision.
Seek out help from an outsider.
Whom you bring in doesn’t really matter.
It can be a friend, colleague, or mentor.
This approach is known as "bringing a barbarian”.
Often, the awkward truths they speak force you to overcome your indecision.
8. Let go of the Illusion of Control
People overestimate how much they actually control.
They keep feeding themselves lies to maintain the illusion of control.
They are unable to face reality.
That makes them indecisive.
People overestimate how much they actually control.
They keep feeding themselves lies to maintain the illusion of control.
They are unable to face reality.
That makes them indecisive.
Instead, acknowledge that you are pretty helpless.
Accept reality for what it is.
That is, You will never have as much control as you’d like.
This will help you become more decisive.
Accept reality for what it is.
That is, You will never have as much control as you’d like.
This will help you become more decisive.
9. Stop Asking for Reassurance
Many people have a coping strategy when they feel anxious.
They run to someone for reassurance.
It can be a partner, a friend, a co-worker - even a child.
Nothing damages your confidence more than this.
Many people have a coping strategy when they feel anxious.
They run to someone for reassurance.
It can be a partner, a friend, a co-worker - even a child.
Nothing damages your confidence more than this.
Your brain trusts your behavior more than your words.
You are teaching your brain that your anxiety is a threat.
And in turn, your brain shoots up your anxiety levels.
Stop this bad habit. Tolerate this anxiety.
Your brain will reward you with long-term confidence.
You are teaching your brain that your anxiety is a threat.
And in turn, your brain shoots up your anxiety levels.
Stop this bad habit. Tolerate this anxiety.
Your brain will reward you with long-term confidence.
Indecision hurts your progress.
While you're twiddling your thumbs, trying to get it right - the world moves on.
Understand what's paralyzing you.
Then let the above framework guide you.
Over time, you will become confident.
Indecision will lose its hold over you.
While you're twiddling your thumbs, trying to get it right - the world moves on.
Understand what's paralyzing you.
Then let the above framework guide you.
Over time, you will become confident.
Indecision will lose its hold over you.
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Then follow me (@resilientthuman) for more such content.
Or join my newsletter for an even more nuanced and in-depth take.
No B.S and fillers. Only actionable advice 👇
resilienthuman.me/newsletter/
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