Why is making career decisions hard? You’d think it shouldn’t be, right? ‘Cause we make good decisions all the time:
- We park in the middle of the lot to squeeze in a few more steps.
- We set the alarm and get out of bed when it rings–even a few minutes before.
- We resist criticizing our spouse, kids, or coworkers when they act like jerks. (Okay, maybe they get an eyeroll, but we keep our mouths shut.)
In fact, we make good decisions many times during the day. Of course, we have our share of stinky decisions from time to time (“sure, I’ll take a third slice of pizza”), but that just makes us human.
So, with all of the decision-making experience we have, why do we get so stuck when we’re making career decisions?
Why do we get overwhelmed, frustrated, and even angry at ourselves trying to figure out what’s next for us?
Tell me – why do we stay unhappy, or even worse, feel bored and wasted in our lives at work?
WHY IS THIS SO FREAKING HARD?!!
Here’s Why Making Career Decisions Is Hard
In updating and expanding our on-demand course, “Should I Stay or Go? Make Your Best Career Decision” I’ve been doing an extensive amount of research about decision-making.
Because while I’ve known what the clients and students who I work with get stuck on, I wanted to understand more about why they get stuck in the first place.
And the data is eye-opening.
Surprising. Shocking, even.
Because while each of us has struggled (or has known someone who’s struggled ) with making a career decision, we all have the same magic tool available to us.
And it’s free.
It’s not the pro/con list
Did you know that the world’s most common decision-making tool—the pro/con list — was actually invented by Benjamin Franklin?
According to Chip and Dan Heath in their book Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work, a friend asked Franklin how to decide between two options.
Franklin suggested taking a piece of paper and drawing a line down the center, marking one side Pro and the other Con.
The Heaths point out this surprising fact: that somehow, this process has remained our default decision-making tool to this day.
(Take a minute to swallow that. With all the innovation and technology in our hands, and we still go back to something started in 1772. Yow.)
But they point out that the pro/con list, while ubiquitous and accessible, is inherently flawed.
You probably already know this from your own experience. You’ve probably sat down and wrote up a pro/con list. Maybe you have one right now. And, looking at it, you clearly see that one list is significantly longer than the other.
And, looking at it, you clearly see that one list is significantly longer than the other.
But you still can’t decide.
Okay, so what’s the magic tool?
The pro/con list doesn’t work because it doesn’t take into account the one magic tool you’re overlooking. 
It’s your emotion.
(Cut to you: scrunched up sour face, like you ate bad turkey.)
Oh yes, I see you. This makes you uncomfortable.
Good.
Because discomfort is where the growth is.
You’re uncomfortable because you were taught that there’s no room for emotion in today’s world of work.
You were told “it’s not personal, it’s just business.” Right? Me too.
Well, we’ve been taught wrong. Work is always personal.
And that makes decisions around our work extremely personal.
(According to the Heaths, Franklin had a basic understanding of the emotional value of each element while using his pro/con list. He called it “moral algebra,” giving different items different weights. Somehow, that complexity has gotten lost since 1772.)
If you’re making career decisions, stop avoiding your emotions
Most of us want to resist believing that our best business and career decisions will come from paying attention to our emotions.
We often don’t value them, trust them, and sometimes, we’re not really sure what they are.
We say things like, “Oh, maybe I’m just tired.” Or “maybe it’ll get better tomorrow.”
But when we pay honest, respectful attention to our true emotions, we know whether those statements are true or not. Or we know if we’re just kidding ourselves.
(One of the key steps I teach to people making business & career decisions is to listen to the whispers. That’s where the emotions are coming through. It’s in those quiet, honest moments that the truth can emerge. But most of us have to do the work to get there. We’ve created a simple, but powerful and proven structure in our online career decision-making course, “Should I Stay or Go?” More here & you can enroll immediately.)
It’s only human
Unlike machines, plants, or animals, human beings are uniquely equipped with emotions.
Even Siri doesn’t really feel anything. Any human-like reactions were programmed in her chip-based head by a fellow human.
Emotions are what makes us messy—and marvelous.
Understanding and knowing how to interpret and use emotion effectively is one of the secret strategies for a successful career today.
And it’s the surprising tool you’re likely overlooking on your path to making business and career decisions that are right for you.
Hey—want more help?
No matter what’s happening in your life at work, a 30-minute chat with me can help you get unstuck and move forward, fast.
Just hit the button below, and pick a date and time that’s available. Answer a few short questions, and then I’ll call you at the time you picked. There’s nothing to prepare–just show up right where you are. If, after we talk, it sounds like one of my coaching programs or courses will help you going forward, I’ll share details after our call. There’s no pressure -my goal is to be helpful immediately.
Spots fill up fast, though, so schedule yours now and start getting the support you deserve.
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Here’s Why Making Career Decisions Is Hard (& How To Make Them Easier)