How to Overcome Overthinking and Get More Done

BY DAN ROCKWELL

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Thinking is a magnifying glass. Overthinking is a microscope.

Daniel Kanneman said, “Nothing in life is as important as you think it is, while you are thinking about it.”

Clarity:

Action creates clarity. Inaction magnifies confusion.

The more you think about something, the bigger it becomes. The sooner you act, the clearer you become.

• Focus on thinking, get more thinking.
• Focus on action, get results.

READ: What A Stranger Taught Me About Humility

Overthinking and fear:

Fear of making mistakes ends up making you dumb.

You learn when you try stuff.

Organizations that concentrate on preventing mistakes end up paralyzed and dumb.

Responsible mistake-making enables learning. (Dumb mistake-making results from lack of initiative, poor preparation, and sloppy execution.)

1. Choose a path forward.
2. Prepare, plan, and execute with precision.
3. Evaluate, adapt, and begin again.

Success is always iterative.

The more you think about fear, the bigger it becomes.

Fear shrinks when you step into it.

What ifs:

How many what ifs are enough?

Create three options. Choose one. Move forward.

1. One option isn’t a choice.
2. Two options is a yes or no situation.
3. Three options enable you to experience the power of making a real decision.

Focused reflection for overthinkers:

How has taking action…

1. Made you wiser?
2. Expanded your experience?
3. Enabled you to change direction?
4. Enlarged your ability to serve?

Imagined problems…

Think about problems a little. Focus on solutions a lot.

Problem-centric leaders are dead weight.

Tony Robbins says, “Identify your problems, but give your power and energy to solutions.”

Overthinker’s tip: Distill big decisions into a series of small decisions.

If you can’t make a big jump, take a small step.

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Reposted with permission.

Dan Rockwell is a coach and speaker and is freakishly interested in leadership. He is an author of a world-renowned leadership blog, Leadership Freak. To get in touch with Dan, write to us at editor@leaderonomics.com.