The subtitle and the article: "The Twitterization of our culture has revolutionized our lives, but with an unintended consequence-our overloaded brains freeze when we have to make decisions," accurately describe our society and provide a lot of relevant information.
The most important point I recognized was how our information overload actually inhibits us from making decisions--as our frustration and anxiety increases when the "flow of facts and opinion never stops." Sharon Begley writes- "The booming science of decision making has shown that more information can lead to objectively poorer choices, and to choices that people come to regret."
One observation the article makes that is evident in every experience I have dealt with is that the greater amount of choices people have, the more they are more prone to making no decision at all. I have been in numerous meetings this year with an agenda, and upon leaving the meeting and looking back, realize how nothing was actually decided. We spent an hour discussing every choice, but never having a concrete answer. That's what our world has become. The recency effect of decision making then becomes clear--because the person of authority lets the most recent choice discussed become the so-called "decision" of the group.
The brain's working memory "can hold roughly seven items...anything more must be processed in long-term memory." Ever wonder why you can memorize phone numbers? That's why! So when you are having serious conversations with friends, holding meetings or creating to-do lists, remember not to go over more than seven important things! Unless you have a strategy of implanting them in someone's long-term memory. Also, in the end, people who decide things unconsciously end up being more satisfied. Therefore, rather than providing someone with multiple choices and giving them the possibilities, let them choose. For the record, we are all individuals.
What is a solution to all of this? How can we make indecisive people start to make decisions? Telling them to do so in itself has not and will not just work. The article offers that we be aware of overusing smart phones and outlets that give us the information.
"Experts advise dealing with emails and texts in batches, rather than in real time; that should let your unconscious decision-making system kick in. ...You will do better, and regret less, if you let your unconscious turn it over by removing yourself from the info influx-set priorities."
Thus, set a time to check your phone and laptop for messages. Don't do it sporadically. Go with your gut when you make decisions. Be sure when you walk out of a meeting or end a conversation that a decision has actually been made. And let people be themselves.
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