Decision Overload!
Bite sized leadership advice
Our brains are overloaded.
If we are pushed to make a decision, we feel the pressure and it makes us feel uncomfortable.
We get defensive, we delegate to others or we defer to buy ourselves time to think.
When our defensive walls go up, known in neuroscience as an amygdala hijack, our fight or flight system kicks in
In decision making this converts into one of three tactics.
- Defense: we feel under threat, we fight, we pick holes in the arguments
- Delegate: we suggest that others opinions should be sought, we look for consensus.
- Defer: we ask for more data, which takes time
Each of these tactics are designed to buy ourselves time to think, to not be forced to make a decision in the moment, which feels too risky.
To make faster decisions, take these into account. Avoid the defensive wall triggering in the first place.
Some practical advice
- Recognise that leaders are busy, do not surprise them, ever!
- Offer choices with consequences, humans like to have something to refer to
- Reduce the sense of risk through scenarios, phasing or fallback plans
- Remember that there is only one decision maker and they know who they are. If they look to a group to bolster their confidence and de-risk, ensure the group is primed and ready too.
- If are asked for more data, recognise that this is really about time. Be patient, give time, assess whether you *really* need to get more data.
- Consider briefing one day, allowing time to thing (best done with a sleep), then making the decision in a short meeting the next day.
This is part of our Leadership Wizdom series, bite sized leadership advice for leaders who wish to improve their leadership, but don’t have much time. For more indepth articles check out The Change Wizard.
We coach leaders and help their organisations become more adaptable at www.thechangewizard.com
