By recognising a decision’s true nature and taking the bull by the horns, you can optimise your decision-making process, keep stress at bay and boost your chances of success, says Dr Amantha Imber. Follow the tips below so that the next time you’re at a crossroads, you can determine what you’re dealing with – and act accordingly.
Life is full of decisions, from the mundane (pumpkin spice oat milk latte or a long macchiato with a dash of almond milk?) to the critical, like taking a leap of faith in your career.
Co-founder and ex-CEO of technology giant Evernote, Phil Libin discovered a nifty trick to tackle decision-making. He said: “Whenever I think to myself ‘That’s a really hard decision’, a little red flag goes off. I ask myself ‘Is it hard?’ or ‘Is it unpleasant?’”
For Libin, the majority of decisions are unpleasant. These can feel scary or anxiety-provoking. They might cause someone else (and often himself) discomfort. But they are not difficult or hard decisions to make. Phil knows what the right answer is, but because these types of decisions trigger the same kind of stress as difficult decisions, they are easy to confuse.
What differentiates the two decision types?
Unpleasant decisions don’t require the same amount of time or brain power because you already know the right answer. You don’t have to spend time analysing data or having long discussions to agree on the best way forward. You just need the courage to face the music and dance. Then, you simply have to execute and deal with the unpleasantness. On the other hand, difficult decisions call for Sherlock Holmes-level analysis, data-crunching and intense discussions before reaching a verdict.
Unpleasant decisions can be emotional rollercoasters but lack the intellectual rigour of difficult ones. Here, the right choice may already be glaringly obvious – but the challenge lies in embracing the discomfort and taking the leap:
- Firing an underperforming employee: Letting someone go is never easy. But when you’re a manager, and you’ve been dealing with poor performance for a while, and there have been no signs of improvement, you absolutely know the right decision.
- Reporting misconduct: It’s hard to speak up, especially when you fear the consequences. But you know, channelling your inner whistleblower is exactly what’s needed.
- Breaking ties with a fair-weather friend: Difficult and unpleasant decisions also happen in life. You know in your heart when a friendship no longer enriches you – and you know parting ways is for the best.
To elevate your decision-making prowess, use these steps to get clear on the type of decision you’re being confronted with:
- Play detective: Ask yourself if you already know the answer. If it’s a resounding ‘yes’, congratulations, you’ve got an unpleasant decision on your hands. Of course, if it’s a no, you have a difficult decision to make.
- Don’t get caught in analysis paralysis: Overthinking unpleasant decisions is like stirring a pot of emotional stew. Acknowledge the situation, take a deep breath and focus on getting things done.
- Embrace the butterflies: Accept that executing an unpleasant decision will be bumpy. Remember, discomfort is your co-pilot on the journey to better outcomes.
- Take the plunge: Once you’ve recognised the decision as unpleasant, muster your courage and forge ahead. Procrastination only makes it worse.
- Reflect and grow: After tackling an unpleasant decision, ponder the experience. Extract valuable lessons to sharpen your future decision-making skills.
Also read: Unblocking decision-making bottlenecks | Executive PA Media