It’s so hard to decide!

Last week I wrote about how to build up your confidence muscle. And if you are one of the many who feel like your self-confidence could use a boost, then it’s possible that you also struggle with decision-making.

Difficulty in making decisions isn’t always linked to low self-confidence. But if you struggle with low self-confidence it’s likely your decision-making skills could use a boost.

Last week I gave you my 3-step training regimen for increasing confidence. Here are 3 more tips that will help with both decisions AND confidence.

1. Schedule practice sessions.
   Getting better at making decisions takes practice just like any skill. If you want to get better at dancing, you probably attend a regularly scheduled dance class. The same goes for building your decision-making muscle. You’re going to want to be intentional about practicing your skill. Take out your calendar. Block time each day, even if it’s  only 15 minutes. During that 15 minutes, identify 2 or 3 decisions you will make that day. Give yourself a time limit and stick to your guns!
2. Start Small
   People who suffer from paralysis by analysis often worry about the consequences of making the “wrong decision.” So start with small decisions that have little or no negative consequences. How long does it take you to decide what to eat at a restaurant? If ordering your dinner turns into a 60-minute, hair-pulling, nail-biting session, start here. Get out your mobile device and set your timer for 60 seconds. You’ll quickly learn that making decisions isn’t nearly as painful or consequential as you made it out to be in your mind. You’ll get more comfortable, and in time, larger decisions won’t feel so scary.
3. Focus on progress not perfection
   One of my favorite mantras from leading teams in process improvement is, “don’t let best get in the way of better.” In other words, you’re probably struggling between two really good options. You’re worried because you want to make the perfect choice. But this is going to keep you stuck. You worry about all the ways your decision can go bad. It’s always better to focus on the progress that will come from your decision. Remind yourself that no matter which choice you make, things will be better. Always go for progress, and let go of the idea of perfection.