Why You Cant Make That Decision (and Smart Ways to Get Over It)

Why You Cant Make That Decision (and Smart Ways to Get Over It)Why You Cant Make That Decision (and Smart Ways to Get Over It)Youve just worked your third 12-hour day in a row, with no sign of the craziness winding down in the days ahead, when a client calls you with yet another problem that needed to be solved- yesterday. In that moment, it may seem like your brain simply gives up while your client is still on the line, waiting for you to provide another one of the quick, brilliant solutions that shes come to depend on you for. This moment of mental paralysis, or the inability to make an effective decision in a brief moment, even if its normally easy for you, is whats known as decision fatigue. Psychologists whove studied decision fatigue have found that it can cause anything from indecisiveness to impulse purchases (a yellow jumpsuit- really?). Because humans have a finite reserve of mental energy on a given day, when its exhausted we either make poor decisions or avoid making them altogether. And in this day and age of long hours, overflowing inboxes, and packed calendars, its no wonder were depleting these mental reserves more quickly than we can replenish them for optimal decision-making.Decision-Making Its a Marathon, Not a SprintIt seems that the more decisions were forced to make- and often the more weight these decisions carry- the more we can deplete our ability to sustain good judgment calls. Think about it How many decisions have you made, big or small, in first few hours of any given day? It begins with deciding what to eat for breakfast, what clothes to wear, and what music to listen to on the way to work. From there, decisions- and their consequences- grow in number and significance. Just think about the number of emails you receive and the decisions you need to make around how to respond, what to prioritize, whether to delegate to a colleague- your inbox alone can be an overwhelming example of decision fatigue. But, since none of these decisions are going anywhere, its important to learn how to avoid burnout and manage your mental energy effectively. To get started, try following a few tried-and-true decision making guidelines.First Things FirstEach evening, anticipate what, if any, major decisions youll need to make the next day, such as approving a budget or selecting a vendor. Then, try to organize your day as much as possible so that you can make these decisions early on during the morning, before your reserves are depleted. If an important request or question comes up in the late afternoon or evening when you already feel run ragged, flag it as a to-do for early the next day when your brain is refreshed and youve had some time to process it.Replace Decisions with CommitmentsIts 6 PM, and you promised yourself youd go to the gym after work. But now youre leaving the office late, your stomach is starting to rumble, and you opt for watching House of Cards on the couch instead of cardio. Now imagine if youd made a non-neg otiable contract with yourself to hit the gym every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. By committing to and scheduling the gym, theres no decision to make Working out is already a parte of your day that youve determined youll make happen. You can do the same thing throughout your day or week. For example, try laying out your wardrobe on Sunday evening for the week ahead (making note of the weather forecast and any special occasions) so you wont be stuck in a panic each morning, wondering what to wear. Make Space in Your ScheduleGive yourself some time between meetings to let your brain process the information you received so that youre able to offer up good decisions in subsequent sessions. Try scheduling meetings for 45 minutes instead of an hour, allowing 15 minutes for reflection and as a mental break ahead of your next appointment. And definitely dont schedule meetings right before lunch or at the very end of the day when peoples decision-making capabilities and attention span are t ypically low. And speaking of lunch, nows the time to finally quit eating lunch at your desk and get out of the office This switches your mental gears, releasing your mind from the grip of your to-do list, and lets you come back to it with a fresh perspective, helping replenish your decision-making capabilities for the next part of your day.Stay FueledYour mom always said never to make an important decision on an empty stomach, and it turns out that isnt bad advice If you know youll have to be making decisions late in the day, snack after lunch to make koranvers your brain is receiving the energy it needs to run on. In the end, one of the best defenses you can have against decision fatigue is simply knowing it exists and how it works. Mastering optimal decision-making in spite of this can help you make better decisions consistently and avoid the negative consequences that come with inadvertent bad judgment calls. Photo of man at crossroads courtesy of Shutterstock.

4 ways to set yourself up for success during your first week at a new job

4 ways to set yourself up for success during your first week at a new job4 ways to set yourself up for success during your first week at a new jobStarting a new job can be overwhelming, but you shouldnt just close your eyes and hope for the best. Instead, heres plan of attack for the first week.Meet with your managerLaura Katen, President of Katen Consulting, writes in The Muse that you should keep your boss informed in the first weekThroughout the week, ask for periodic meetings with your boss (instead of popping in her amtsstube for every question you have). In addition to getting her direction on projects and tasks, you should use this time to update her on what youre learning and who youre meeting with.Ask questions like Are there additional tasks I should be taking on or skills I should be learning? and Can you give me feedback on the project I just completed? to show initiative, but also do a lot of listening, too. Your boss feedback and insight is going to be one of your great est resources at this point- after all, youre going to be spending the next weeks, months, and maybe even years working for her, and learning how she thinks early on will serve you well.Get to know your new surroundingsIndeeds online career guide recommends that you learn how to navigate and enjoy your new workplaceLocate the restrooms, the coffeeand water, the stairs and elevators, where you can eat lunch and take breaks, and seek out any other amenities this workplace offers. If you havent been given a tour, consider asking a colleague for one. In this first week, you may also want to experiment with your commute finding the right times to leave home and testing different routes or transportation methods. Identifying and establishing the routines early on will give you peace of mind.Put your time inHannah Morgan, a speaker and author, writes in U.S. News World Report that you should arrive early, leave lateDuring your first few weeks on the job, everyone (not just your boss) is o bserving how you behave. Learn what the normal work day patterns look like by watching what time your co-workers arrive and leave. You dont have to be the first person in the office, but you should arrive earlier than most. And dont just skipiste out in your cube. Use this time to have a brief chat with a colleague in the break room or offer help to someone who looks stressed.She also mentions that you should touch base with your manager before heading out.Dont feed the rumor millThis wont help your career.Dawn Rosenberg McKay, an author and career planning professional, writes in The Balance that you should not get caught up in the office gossip at the start of a new positionWhether its over lunch or around the proverbial water cooler,gossiphappens in every workplace. Neither ignore or share it.Keep your ears open but your mouth closed. You may learn valuable information, for example, your bosss foul mood is due to his having a difficult time at home, and he isnt always like this. Dont contribute anything to the conversation. Also, keep in mind that not everything you hear is true.

Everything you need to know about Search

Everything you need to know about SearchEverything you need to know about SearchEverything you need to know about SearchMonsterYoure a recruiter, and candidate search is part of your joba big, time-consuming part. But building strong candidate relationships is a big part too.In todays tight labor market, you dont want a search tool that clogs your pipeline with unqualified candidates.And you definitely dont have time to juggle multiple platforms and dashboards trying to connect with candidates. Thats why we created SearchMonster, our next-generation search technology that gives you a smarter way to engage with qualified candidatesin a much more meaningful way.We know youve got questions and weve got answers.What kind of searching can I do?One of the really great things about Searchis it gives you the option to search the way you want to search. Comfortable with Boolean (leveraging operator words like and and or and symbols)? Do it Ready for a more advanced search? Semantic search app lies related keywords to each term and landseeks to understand the searchers intent and the contextual meaning of terms to bring in broader and more results.Are searches adjustable?Yup. Start your search with broad criterialets say job titlethen use filters like education, salary, veteran status, relocation, citizenship and more, to change results. Its kind of like erreichbar shopping. Start with a search that shows every possible candidate in a geographic area, then use filters to narrow or widen your pool to a more manageable group of best-fit candidates.I see candidates that fit my requirements, but I need more info. How can I get it?Where applicable, information from third party platforms like GitHub and AboutMe fill in additional information on the candidate profile, giving more context and greater background. Social media profile links on candidates profiles also help you get insight into their personal and professional interests.I need to contact candidates fast. How can I do it?If theyve opted in, you can send them a text message or an email, telling them about that terrific job theyd be a perfect match for. Were particularly excited to introduce SMS text messaging from the platform because research shows that texting is the preferred medium of communication for people aged 18-44, and text messages are read over 95% of the time.How do I know someone else in my organization hasnt already reached out?Searchhelps you avoid those duplicate messages that candidates find so annoying, by letting you see who in your organization has already contacted them and when. Text messages read like a group email within the platform.Togglings tedious. Is Searcha single platform?Yes, it is Searchnew and improved three panel UI helps recruiters easily filter, discover and view candidates in one simple view.How can I tell if my candidate outreach is working?Built-in analytics help you track the stats (e.g., sent, open, click rates) behind each campaign, adjust the parameter s if needed, and understand candidate behavior.Is Searchnew?Yes Our latest search tool, SearchMonster, takes our decades of enhancing and refining search technology and our candidate engagement expertise to the most advanced level, to help recruiters find the right fit faster. With more powerful filters, search method options, candidatetexting, and social profile and aggregated skills access, Searchnext-generation technology moves the process from candidate search to qualified candidate hire.