Are you paralyzed by decision-making? Whether in your personal life or career, the problem might not be your confidence level but rather a lack of clarity. Being either too decisive or too hesitant can derail your success.
The Myth of Blind Confidence and The Problem of Hesitation
There’s a common belief that being decisive equates to being successful. However, acting without proper insight can lead you down the wrong path. Elizabeth Holmes and the Theranos case offer a prime example of where ‘fake it till you make it’ leads.
Holmes is not alone; plenty of startup founders have made quick decisions that led to their downfall.
On the flip side, if you’re hesitating because you lack confidence, that’s also a dead-end. Repeating affirmations or making excuses like “I’m just not cut out for this” won’t solve your core issue.
The real issue isn’t your decision-making speed or your level of confidence. It’s that you are unclear about:
- How to focus your energy
- Which challenges to tackle next
- What changes you should make
The Solution: Self-awareness and Feedback
Investing in self-awareness can break the deadlock. High-quality assessments like the Myers-Briggs or SWOT analysis can offer invaluable insights. Similarly, feedback from trusted colleagues, friends, or mentors can provide a fuller picture of your strengths and weaknesses.
One of my clients, Elsbeth, was stuck in her career. After she took some assessments and gathered feedback from people who’ve seen her in action, she realized the gifts she’d been hesitant to acknowledge before. She started finding opportunities to advocate for herself and has seen her career flourish.
Take the Next Step
Ready to become more decisive and self-aware? I offer free initial consultations to help you get started. There’s no risk in taking the first step towards making better decisions in your life and career.
Bottom line, being decisive isn’t about blind confidence or endless hesitation. It’s about being self-aware enough to know where to focus your energy and which challenges to take on. Make the investment in understanding yourself, and you’ll find that the decisions practically make themselves.
