Fear of failure, fear of making the wrong decision, and fear of our own inadequacy all affect the actions we take and quality of the decisions we make.
If you frequently question your ability to make sound decisions seek out a coach or mentor who can help you boost your confidence.

The role fear plays in decision making

Each choice we make chips away at our mental energy, leaving us more tired and ineffective.
Don't get caught up in the small stuff. If you over analyze your daily choices you're exhausting energy that could be focused on the most important ones.

The choices we want and out mental energy

Organizational noise comes in endless streams of information and communication. At the individual level, there is internal noise, which manifests from our biases, fears, and competing priorities.
Take daily breaks from the noise by engaging in meditation, exercise, and play.

Organizational noise and decision making

Multitasking slows us down as the brain is optimized to focus on one task at a time. Spreading our attention across multiple tasks becomes draining and leaves little energy for those tasks that matter most.
Pay attention to what you're doing. Turn off any distractions that may take your mind elsewhere.

Multitasking and decision making

Biases filter our experiences and affect the way we understand the world, only allowing us to see what we want to see. As we gather information, the brain uses what it knows to interpret it, but the information we receive is rarely entirely accurate, complete, or unbiased.
Always consider the likely accuracy of the data, what might be missing, and what biases exist in the observer or reporter.

Biases and decision making

According to the United Nations' think tank The Millennium Project, "the capacity to decide," is cited as one of 15 global challenges facing humanity today. It's difficult to believe that decision making is placed on the same list of global challenges as clean water, peace and conflict, and energy.