You want to make the right decision. We all do.
But every time you get close to making a decision, doubt creeps into your head and you start to look for more information. And then a little more. There is truly no end to the research and information gathering you can do.
This is what I refer to as "Analysis Paralysis."
Rather than making a decision given the best information you have at a given point in time, you agonize over every possible outcome and small piece of information. As a result, your decision process becomes slow and laborious and you miss out on opportunities simply because you could not decide.
Here are 3 ways to move forward and get unstuck!
1. TRUST
You were probably hired because you have a specific skill set, have demonstrated a level of care about your work, and have a proven track record of showing good judgement. So why do you always second guess yourself? Start trusting your own judgement and don't overthink every decision.
2. PARETO'S PRINCIPLE
You might already be familiar with Pareto's Principle (also known as the 80/20 rule.) While it has many applications, the one I like best is that 20% of the work provides 80% of the results. This implies that looking to get to 100% might be very costly in terms of time and effort. When you feel like you've done a reasonable amount of legwork towards making a decision, before going further, ask yourself - Is it worth it?
*My second favorite application of the principle is that we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time.
3. PRIORITIES
Getting stuck in Analysis Paralysis means other work is not getting done. You need to decide if getting to the 'perfect' choice is more important than an educated decision that allows time to get other important work done. You need to constantly prioritize.
Next time you get stuck over-analyzing a decision, try applying these three methods to keep you moving forward.
Sharon F. Danzger founded Control Chaos in 2006. As a productivity consultant, she provides group training and individual coaching.
Ms. Danzger’s diverse background in financial services, non-profits, and small business enables her to offer a unique perspective on finding efficiency and balance. She tailors her approach to be industry specific and culturally focused based on her actual work and client experience.
Ms. Danzger spent the early part of her career in financial services working for The Prudential Insurance Company of America. She spent time in a variety of areas including commercial real estate, underwriting, corporate social responsibility, and group insurance.
Her work with non-profits has ranged from leadership development, governance, and training to financial analysis and oversight of an $18 MM budget.
Sharon holds a BS in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an MS in Real Estate from New York University. She is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU).
She has earned a Certificate of Study in Chronic Disorganization from the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD). Ms. Danzger has recently completed Monash University's "Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance," University of Virginia Darden School's "Fundamentals of Project Planning and Management," University of Pennsylvania Wharton School's "Contagious," and University of Michigan's "Inspiring and Motivating Individuals."