Analysis Paralysis – What is it and How to Cure it

Have you ever needed to make a decision in business or in life and simply could not settle on a choice? If so, you could be suffering from analysis paralysis. According to Wikipedia, “Analysis paralysis or paralysis by analysis is the state of over-analyzing (or over-thinking) a situation so that a decision or action is never taken, in effect paralyzing the outcome.”

– needing a final topic list for a book or course you are designing

– choosing the colors that will be on your website and social media pages

– picking a name for your businesses

You can easily take too long to decide, and the entire time you’re debating the choice you’re not moving forward in your business. Or, in the case of not choosing your business’s name, you’re not even launching and therefore, you’re not making any money. So, now that you know what this decision dilemma is called, how can you cure it? Below are some ideas we found.

1. Set a “drop dead” date. Forbes suggests giving yourself a deadline for the decision. The simple act of giving yourself a deadline could be all you need to make the best possible choice.

2. Eliminate the bad options first. According to Personal Excellence, a great step towards getting closer to your decision is to eliminate the bad options first. What can often happen is the best choice reveals itself as you de-clutter the bad ideas.

3. Ask for a second opinion. Reliable Plant says you should “run your arguments past an impartial judge such as a trusted friend or colleague… Present your cases as if you are in front of the Supreme Court; make them clear, succinct and convincing.” Then, at the conclusion of this ask them what they think is the best idea. Whether you agree or disagree with their opinion, you’re that much closer to a decision. You may find that while delivering your arguments, you were more passionate about one decision over another and that is often a strong indicator of what your choice should be. We have several onsite Virtual Assistants ready to lend an opinion when asked. Give them a call at 813-350-7800 or send them an email.

4. Go with your gut because you can always change your mind later. Tim Ferriss, author of The Four Hour Work Week is known for making his life a series of experiments. Some of them work and some of them don’t, but the kicker is he never sits around too long waiting to do something. He often just acts and then writes about his experiences. The beauty of life is that, aside from death, most things are never truly permanent. And, if you look at everything as an experiment, you can never truly fail; Instead, you’re finding ways that simply don’t work. This feels a lot less threatening and allows decisions a lot easier to to make.

Contact us today to discover more about our suite of virtual office services and to explore our beautiful office space in Tampa. Want to know more about how we can help you go virtual? Click here to learn more about On Point Executive Center!

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