Decision-Making Fears and How to Conquer Them

Is fear driving your decision making? In this episode of All We Know About the Stuff We Know, Ashley and Dave tackle the fears that get in the way of making effective decisions—and how to overcome them.

Why You Should Listen:

This episode delves into the psychology behind why fears—like fear of failure, loss, or being judged—tend to shape our decisions and often hold us back from making important choices. Dave and Ashley explore practical ways to name and tame your fears so you can move forward with more confidence, whether at work or in your personal life. The dialogue also touches on the dynamics of team decision-making, highlighting the impact of groupthink and the importance of creating an environment where all voices are heard. Ultimately, the conversation encourages listeners to confront their fears and embrace growth for better decision-making.

Key Takeaways:

• Identify Your Fears: Whether it’s fear of failure, regret, the unknown, loss, or judgment, recognizing your fears is the first step toward making better decisions.
• The Role of Fear in Behavior: Dave discusses how fear can unconsciously drive decision-making, often without us realizing it.
• Loss Aversion Bias: Understanding why we naturally focus on avoiding loss rather than seeking gains—and how that mindset can hold us back.
• DiSC Styles and Fear: Different DiSC behavioral styles experience decision-making fears differently—like the dominant D style’s fear of losing control.
• Team Dynamics and Fear: How fear of judgment or contradicting groupthink can stifle innovation and smart decision-making within teams.

Mentioned in This Episode:

• What does each DiSC Style fear? Read our blog: https://www.focustools.com/post/what-does-each-disc-style-fear
• Want to find out your DiSC Style? Take the DiSC survey here: https://bit.ly/DiSCstyle
• Is your team facing a complex decision? Book a workshop: https://www.focustools.com/decision-focus
• Want to be a better decision maker in 20 minutes? Download our ebook: https://www.focustools.com/5things
• Want to dive deep and learn our decision making processes on demand? Take one of our courses: https://www.focustools.com/decision-focus-courses

Connect with Us:

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestuffweknowshow

Watch us (and subscribe!) on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@focustoolsforlife

Work with us: https://www.focustools.com

Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just plain over it? In this episode, Ashley and Dave tackle the kind of chaos that doesn’t come with easy answers—messy work situations, unexpected leadership changes, and the creeping urge to quit. Instead of defaulting to “stay or go,” they introduce a smarter way to sort through the mess: Situation Analysis. You’ll laugh (cabinet paint colors and cats are involved), you’ll think (about comfort vs. growth and of course Dave drops the mic on us 🎤), and you’ll walk away with a framework that can make even the gnarliest problems feel manageable. They also discuss why binary thinking ("should I stay or should I go?") limits your choices—and how reframing the decision can open up new, better options. Whether you’re overwhelmed at work or navigating personal frustration, this episode offers a calm, clear way to find your next move. Bonus: Dave and Ashley talk about their Decision-Focus course, where you can learn these tools at your own pace—plus get coaching when real life gets tricky. Hit play and find out why this just might be the best tool you’ve never used.

🛠 Learn more about the process (and get your own downloadable worksheets): www.FocusTools.com/Decision-Focus

💡Want to book a workshop with us or have a question for Ash & Dave? Email team@focustools.com or find us on Instagram @thestuffweknowshow

Mentioned in this episode:

Ashley’s amazing retractable sliding screen door: https://g.co/kgs/kciek8c

Her favorite green for kitchen cabinets: https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-colors/color/509/cypress-green

Is your life a mess? Figure it out with Situation Analysis: https://focustools.podia.com/situation-analysis

Choose how to make better decisions with Decision Analysis: https://focustools.podia.com/decision-analysis

PS: We wrote a book! Here’s what people are saying so far about 5 Things You Need to Know About Decision Making…

• “You don’t know what you don’t know until you read this book.”

• “This is an example of something we all think we’re good at it…and we’re not.”

• “Very practical and immediately usable. The decision-making framework and tools are outstanding resources for business and everyday life decisions.”

We’ll be discussing each of the 5 things in our upcoming episodes, so make sure to click that subscribe button so you’ll get notified! Grab your copy of the book: https://www.focustools.com/5things

What’s the second thing we need to know about making decisions? In this conversation, Ashley and Dave explore intricacies of decision-making, focusing on different styles and the impact of personality on choices. They discuss the concepts of maximizing versus satisficing, the DiSC model, and the importance of self-awareness in making effective decisions. You’ll learn how to get consensus if one person is a slower decision maker than you, how valuing harmony impacts the decisions you make, and whether or not crowdsourcing is a good idea. You’ll also hear Dave’s super deep unintentional question that cracked Ashley up and briefly made her question all her life’s choices.

Spoiler Alert: She’s a maximizer.

"If you're getting buy-in for the sake of just avoiding conflict rather than seeking an optimal solution, then that might not be a good thing.” - Dave

Want to know more about how your DiSC style impacts your decision making? Take the assessment for yourself: https://bit.ly/DiSCstyle

Get a promo code to find out your decision making DiSC style when you buy our ebook 5 Things You Need to Know About Decision Making. Here’s what people are saying so far …

· “This is an example of something we all think we’re good at it…and we’re not.”

· “Very practical and immediately usable. The decision-making framework and tools are outstanding resources for business and everyday life decisions.”

Get your copy here! https://www.focustools.com/5things

Takeaways

· Understanding decision-making styles is crucial for effective choices.

· Maximizers seek the best options, while satisficers settle for good enough.

· Self-awareness plays a key role in how we make decisions.

· The DiSC model can help identify decision-making tendencies.

· Crowdsourcing opinions can lead to confusion without clear boundaries.

· Decision fatigue can impact our ability to make choices.

· Different situations may require different decision-making approaches.

· Knowing your style can improve team dynamics and decision outcomes.

· Emotional factors often influence decision-making processes.

· It's important to balance speed and quality in decision-making.