How to Make Better Decisions Under Pressure

In a perfect world, you would never need to make decisions under pressure; you would always have ideal decision-making conditions.  You would have ample time to gather information, weigh your options, and think things through. 

But the reality is that you don’t live in a perfect world.  That means you're not always operating with those ideal decision-making conditions.  As life situations come at you, there are times when the pressure is cranked up, and you have no choice but to make a quick decision.  

​Here are five practical tips to help you make better decisions under pressure.

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1. Stay calm by pausing and taking take a few slow, deep breaths.
 
Even if you don’t have a lot of time to slow down think things through, even just a few seconds can make a big difference. 

Before rushing ahead and making your decision, pause and take a few slow, deep breaths.  This won’t just benefit you physically; it will impact your mental and emotional state as well.  You’ll feel calmer and more in control, and you’ll be able to think more clearly.
 
 
2. Tap into your intuition by committing to a course of action and noting how your body responds.
 
Not sure if a particular course of action is the right way to go?  Imagine that you’ve committed to that course of action and things are moving forward.  How is your body responding?  Do you feel at ease?  Do you feel a sense of peace?  Or do you feel anxious, uneasy, perhaps even fearful? 
 
As you commit to a course of action in your mind, your body will communicate a response to you.  If you feel a sense of dread, or you experience a knot forming in your stomach, that’s a clear indication you need to reconsider moving in that direction.
 
 
3. Get grounded by thinking about your core values and writing them down.
 
When you’re under pressure to make a quick decision, the sense of urgency can feel overwhelming.  That sense of urgency can also become a distraction, causing you to lose sight of your core values. 
 
Before you make your final decision, take a moment to think about your core values.  This will help you stay grounded, focused, and oriented in spite of the pressure you’re facing.  Taking things a step further by writing down your core values will bring even greater clarity, increasing your ability to make the decision that’s truly best for you.
 

4.  Gain perspective by considering what a worst-case scenario would look like.
 
Are you putting more pressure on yourself than you need to?  Take a step back and consider what a worst-case scenario would look like.  In many cases, you’ll find that a less than perfect decision isn’t permanent, it isn’t the end of the world, and it isn’t worth agonizing over.
 
On the other hand, contemplating what a worst-case scenario would look like can draw your attention to potential dangers you need to take into account.  As you consider potential outcome you could face and recognize what’s at stake, you can quickly rule out a course of action as being too high-risk and not worth pursuing.
 
 
5. Gain additional insights by bouncing the situation off someone you trust.
 
It can be hard to think clearly when you’re feeling rushed or pressured.  As confusion sets in, you can wind up overlooking things that are right in front of you. 
 
Bouncing the situation off someone you trust can help.  Their distance and emotional detachment from the situation will enable them to see things with greater objectivity.  They may be able to draw your attention alternative options and solutions you hadn’t thought about.  They might also be able to point out aspects of the situation you’re missing that warrant consideration.
 
What happens if the input you receive doesn’t feel right, or if it doesn’t fit with your priorities and preferred direction?  That’s okay!  You’ll still gain valuable insight through the process of identifying why the input isn’t a good fit.  You can then leverage that insight to strengthen and reinforce whatever final decision you arrive at.


Conclusion:  Limited information, a tight deadline, or feeling torn between options can all add pressure when you need to make a decision.  The five tips provided will help you move forward with greater confidence and clarity, so you're able to make the best decision possible.
 

Image Credit:  Roland Steinmann from Pixabay