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As a manager, it is normal to feel stuck making work decisions that affect how things get done. Even if a person usually feels confident, decision fatigue can mess with their ability to make good choices because of all the decision-making they have to handle.

Licensed counselor Joe Martino noted the challenge of identifying decision fatigue since it often manifests as profound weariness. Its pervasive impact remains underestimated. Coined by psychologist Roy F. Baumeister, decision fatigue represents the emotional strain stemming from a surplus of choices. 

While it may sound good to have several choices when making a decision, it can be overwhelming. In a study from 2015, researchers found that choice overload can make a person avoid deciding at all. 

However, managers and business owners are required to make sound decisions, even when faced with the same problem of decision fatigue as everyone else. Here are some tips to overcome business indecision as a manager.

Objectives and key results for the team

Review the team's alignment by revisiting objectives and key results or OKRs, serving as goal-setting frameworks. Assess the breakdown of these objectives and how well they've been communicated. 

In an article, ADAPTOVATE Managing Director and Partner Ghaleb El Masri talked about how it is better to set a direction than give directions. This encourages the team to come up with the "how" of the entire process, while the manager focuses on the "what" and "why" of the goal.

Create personal deadlines

Establishing personal deadlines helps manage indecision by fostering accountability for oneself. Certain decisions naturally carry time constraints, like responding to job offers. Formulate realistic timelines enabling thorough research into options and potential outcomes. 

Optionally, share these deadlines for enhanced accountability. External awareness of your set timeframes can spur action, driven by the knowledge that others monitor progress or depend on your decision within specified periods.