Decisions are made emotionally, not logically
Bite sized leadership advice
We like to think that we are rational, logical human beings, making decisions based on the facts, yet the research suggests we often (always?) make decisions based on emotions, then rationalise them with logic.
Especially when decisions include risk in some form, or a possibility of regret.
When risk or uncertainty exists we feel anxious, that anxiety is an emotion, and we look to mitigate that anxiety. One way to do that is to make a less-risky decision, especially if there is a lot of other things going on in our life.
You have been sent out to buy a bottle of Gin for a party that you are holding that evening. You go to the liqor store and stand infront of a wall of craft Gin’s. You are immobile, paralyzed by the choice. It is too much.
You could do a rational or logical assessment of the choice, but the cognitive overload is too much and you head for a safety choice, or pick another (emotionally driven) decision factor instead.
Research shows that when we are stressed we often jump to decisions, taking less effort for our brain to cope.
We don’t like to be wrong, so we protect our brain. We retroactively persuade ourselves that the choices that we have made are good choices. We think badly about the other options that were available.
Know your biases and if the decision is important, take time.
Some practical advice
- Recognise your biases
- Give your brain the time to think, map out the pro’s and con’s of the decision.
- Sense the emotions you are feeling and the implications for the decision
- Pause and see how you feel. We recommend a sleep between knowing about a decision and making one.
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
