Analysis Paralysis
The term analysis paralysis describes an individual or a group process where overanalyzing or overthinking a situation or a decision that needs to be made causes a pause or paralysis in moving forward. Decision making becomes paralyzed and nothing is done when we experience paralysis by analysis.
Some people can quickly and easily make meaningful decisions. Others may fall into the group of people who need more information, want to review more literature, discuss all possibilities, and then re-discuss all possibilities, then include the latest piece of literature they found, and of course re-discuss the possibilities given the latest piece of literature. You get the point. It is just an unending cycle. Before you know it, so much time has lapsed and maybe even the deadline has approached or passed and what you are trying to accomplish just gets thrown on the shelf because you can’t come to a decision.
How To Recognize Analysis Paralysis
Paralysis by analysis might also look like the individual who needs to make decisions within their own life, maybe about career or next steps, and they just cannot make a move specifically because they are overanalyzing every detail and ultimately trying to make the very best decision that is perfect and will lead to the very best perfect outcome. Yes, that was stated a little dramatically just to emphasize the idea that a contributing part of analysis paralysis is trying to achieve a level of perfection or eliminate anything going wrong. Whether it’s trying to achieve perfection or eliminate the possibility of something going wrong, both goals are extreme and unrealistic.
Analysis paralysis readily shows with regards to career decisions. Whether taking on a new position within a company, debating which job to take, or even starting your own business, career decisions can freeze people in their tracks. Of course, we want to do our due diligence and research options so that we are equipped to make the soundest decision. That is the wise thing to do. However, when we notice we frequently freeze when it comes to making decisions because of the analysis paralysis cycle, we may be stuck in the loop.
There are many reasons analysis paralysis happens. One obvious reason could be anxiety or an anxiety disorder. Anxiety causes us to overanalyze many things and think about the worst-case scenario or all the “what ifs” which can be paralyzing and halts us from moving forward. That is a quick and easy reason for analysis paralysis, however, we do not have to have anxiety to be paralyzed by the analyzing process. In fact, most of us who enter the analysis paralysis loop likely do not have a diagnosable anxiety disorder.
Another reason for analysis paralysis might include poor outcomes from prior decision making. Maybe some time ago a major decision in our lives was made and it did not pan out well. Now, our confidence has decreased, and we do not trust ourselves to make the best decision. Therefore, we rely on literature, research, overthinking, analyzing, and making pros and cons lists to try to combat our low self-efficacy when it comes to decision making for ourselves. Frankly, this is a natural response when something does not go well. We try to overcompensate the next time by working harder, doing more, or learning more to avoid another poor outcome. While that is a natural response and understandable, there does come a time when it is maladaptive and does not work in our favor and that is what we want to be able to recognize.
Another reason we enter the analysis paralysis loop could be fear. Maybe we are fearful that the action following the decision will not be received well, criticized, or not pan out. Along with fear is another reason for analysis paralysis, perfectionism. Sometimes we are striving for flawlessness or perfection around our decisions which is unattainable and unrealistic. Hence, we will end up on the analysis paralysis loop as a result.
Overcoming Analysis Paralysis
Let’s look at six tips regarding what to do if you are experiencing analysis paralysis. This list is not exhaustive; however, these are some key steps we can enact to help us move forward and away from analysis paralysis.
1. Recognize It Is Happening. As with most things, before we can change the behavior, we must recognize that it exists. We need to recognize analysis paralysis is happening, we are stuck and there has been a lack of progress which could have already taken place. We may recognize we are stuck in the cycle because we are able to identify being in the research or pros and cons phase for a significant amount of time. Or we may recognize the loop by how long it takes to make a decision or a deadline has been missed.
2. Explore Your Fears. What are you afraid of? What is the worst case scenario that keeps playing in your mind that is inhibiting you from moving forward. These are the things you want to explore. Oftentimes, the worst-case scenario in our mind is scarier than reality. We could be fearful of judgment or the embarrassment of putting ourselves out there. Explore if your fears are related to a prior experience that you deemed a failure. In addition to exploring your fear around making this decision, reframing the importance of the decision could be helpful. Instead of interpreting the decision as having to be the best or correct decision, we can view it as a decision along a cumulative spectrum of decisions that is shaping us to become our very best.
3. Limit Researching and Advice Seeking. This is part of the loop. There is a lot of researching and then there is more researching via seeking advice from multiple people. We want to limit these behaviors. These behaviors will not get you any closer to deciding. Once you have done your initial phase of researching or advice seeking as part of the due diligence process, anything beyond that is not benefiting or helping you decide. Beyond that is merely an individual trying to self-soothe. Meaning, there may be a lot of anxiety around making a decision because there is uncertainty when we do not know the outcome of something. Therefore, we research and ask people what they think, and research some more and then ask other people what they think as a means to make us feel better or soothed.
What is interesting about this process is our inner wise self already knows what we want to do and need to do. However, we are researching to try to find alignment with what we want, need, and are comfortable to do. We are seeking others’ opinions in hopes someone will give us the answer we want to hear. Hence, pros and cons lists are not recommended. Yes, it seems to be a practical thing to do. However, people are going to do what they want to do and the list will correspond with whatever it is they want to do. It would be most advantageous to listen to your inner wise self and make it a practice of being guided by inner wisdom.
4. Walk Away. Sometimes we must walk away. When we are in information overload, constantly researching on the loop, or going back and forth trying to figure out what to do, it is best for us to just take a step back and walk away. Create some space and time between yourself and the decision. Again, after that initial wave of due diligence with research and guidance, more fruit will not bear. If you have three weeks until a decision needs to be made and you are on the loop, allow yourself to step away and come back to it in two weeks. Practice mindfulness during the hiatus so that you can remain present and not ruminate on the decision while you are supposed to be having time and space between you and the decision. Sometimes we have to get out of our own way.
5. Make Small Decisions Quickly. We want to get into a habit of making decisions more quickly. You can try this with everyday things such as what you are going to eat or wear. What we want to do is make these decisions quickly so that we can start creating some muscle memory. We can start to see that by making a quick decision, regardless the outcome, our life is not derailed or made perfect. We want to put the outcome of decisions in perspective. Sometimes we put too much stock in what ‘could be’ based on one decision.
Making small decisions quickly can show us that our life is not upended either way. We are creating data for ourselves. Data to know we can make a quick decision and the world does not end. The world did not also magically improve because of the decision either. Then, when it comes to more significant decisions, such as career or life plans, we have some muscle memory and perspective to know the chosen decision will not make or break one’s life.
6. Welcome Uncertainty. This one can be difficult. No one wants to welcome uncertainty, however, it is necessary. We must welcome that sometimes we just don’t know. Uncertainty does not feel good. It provokes anxiety in many individuals. We want to learn to become comfortable with the idea that we do not know all things and outcomes. When making a decision, we have research and literature to suggest how it may go, however, we do not absolutely know. We want to surrender to not knowing and be courageous and hopeful enough to find out the outcome. Uncertainty is difficult to embrace, however, uncertainty is happening whether we like it or not so we can either resist it and create more anxiety and discomfort for ourselves or embrace it and let it be to our benefit. If you can’t beat it, join it.
We have discussed a few steps to help us push the gas pedal and get moving. If you find that paralysis by analysis is a common theme in your life with many decisions across a spectrum of significance, and it is very uncomfortable for you or creating negative outcomes, reach out to a professional to help you work through analysis paralysis. To summarize and hopefully inspire, here is a paraphrased quote from an unnamed military general: a good plan executed now is better than a perfect plan executed at some indefinite time in the future.