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Feature Article: The Decider |
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Ask Amanda: I’m being compared unfairly…help! |
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Practical Tips: Approaching Top Dogs |
The
Decider
We pay a biological price for making decision after decision. “Decision
fatigue” was coined by social psychologist Roy F. Baumeister to describe part of
a phenomenon called ego depletion. He was able to demonstrate that the store of
mental energy for exerting self-control is finite, confirming the folk notion
that “willpower” acts like a muscle–it can be fatigued with use and conserved
by avoiding temptation.
Kathleen Vohs, a former colleague of Baumeister now at the University of
Minnesota, conducted experiments to determine which aspect of
decision-making was most fatiguing. Her experiments showed that pondering
options or implementing the decisions of others had minimal impact. However, situations where people had to figure out for themselves what they wanted was far and away the most mentally fatiguing.
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Take imperfect action in the right direction. |
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Practical Tips:
Approaching Top Dogs
Every interaction builds—or detracts from—your reputation. That’s especially true when you’re interacting with C–Suite executives. Make sure you’re clear on your purpose and declare it upfront. There are four common reasons to approach an executive: - You want a decision.
- You’re bringing news that doesn’t require action.
- You want to complain about someone.
- You want personal advice and counsel.
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