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It’s normal to experience difficult and complex emotions in the face of difficult and complex decisions. How can you harness these emotions to help you make better choices? It’s all about “emotional bookending.” Start by identifying the exact decision you need to make. Are you hiring someone? Firing someone? Reshuffling your team? Name the decision—then identify exactly how you feel about it. What is the dominant emotion? Is it fear? Anxiety? A sense of being overwhelmed, or perhaps excitement, about the opportunity ahead? Naming your feelings can help create a little space between emotions and actions. Next, visualize how you might feel on the other side of the decision. Do you imagine a sense of accomplishment or relief? Or is there still some anxiety there? Projecting the emotions you’ll feel in the wake of your decision can help you untangle the discomfort you’re feeling in the face of it—and help you move into your future with clarity and confidence. |
| This tip is adapted from “Emotions Aren’t the Enemy of Good Decision-Making,” by Cheryl Strauss Einhorn (From HBR) |
