How can you help your coachee avoid overthinking and analysis paralysis?

When we overthink, usually we lack a connection with our bodies. It's almost as if we expect everything to come from our brains. I know this might sound strange, but it's only until you learn to listen to yourself as a whole person. Overthinking is a creative adjustment, which was helpful at some point in our life. We all have creative adjustments and they are valuable in many situations which life brings. The only problem is when we use them at the wrong place and time, because we lack awareness of this dynamic in our behavior. At the Dragon Coaching House we work with a Psychotherapy background and help our clients understand and embody parts of themselves in a wholesome way for a healthy functioning.

As a solution focussed coach, I don’t dwell much on the underlying root causes. If at all a client brings them up, we certainly talk through them but the focus of coaching conversations is to get them towards solution mode i.e. what do they want to create ? What is needed for that? How do we make that happen?

In its truest form, decision-making is, well, simple. Identify a problem, determine the cause, develop possible solutions, then use some analysis method to determine risks and likely outcomes. Then, decide. The simplest explanation is often the best. Truth be told, our role is much more about making decisions than critically evaluating them beforehand. In fact, our decision making role is regularly reduced to choosing the most satisfactory options for those intent on making an outcome successful regardless. Given that, keep the process simple, eliminate undue assumptions and knock off the incessant 'what-ifs' that beleaguer those unwilling to act. Think. Reduce. Decide. After all, when you hear hoof beats... think horses, not zebras.

The root cause is the activation of defense mechanisms like rationalisation as a response to learning anxiety. It's an ego mechanism to resist the change created by the energy generated due to learning anxiety. We have to use a two-prong approach 1. Working with the conscious (asking the 5 whys) 2. Spiking the unconscious using the tool of night vision goggles in psychoanalysis aka 'Karma Visarjan' in the realm of Karma Yoga. Combine the two and, and voila! we have identified the root cause.

I was told one time by a successful business mentor and entrepreneur that when we are suffering from analysis paralysis that we know the root cause of any problem we are dealing with because it is in our gut. We just have to cut out the noise and be willing to identify the problem and continue to ask WHY repeatedly.

There will be many different reasons for overthinking and analysis paralysis. This will be individual to the coachee and their situation. Helping them to find the root cause through exploration (talking, thinking, being present, thoughts and emotions) can be the first step to understanding where they are with an issue so that they can find their own solution. The 5 whys can be very helpful but equally I will always come back to listening and providing a space that allows the best thinking

Desde mi experiencia como coach ejecutiva, quiero subrayar lo crucial que es desafiar esas creencias limitantes que a menudo alimentan el pensamiento excesivo. Fomentar una mentalidad de crecimiento, donde los errores se perciben como oportunidades de aprendizaje, es esencial. Al centrarse en criterios clave y aceptar cierta incertidumbre, se allana el camino para una toma de decisiones más efectiva. El uso de herramientas como la reestructuración cognitiva y el cuestionamiento socrático puede marcar la diferencia al cambiar la perspectiva del coachee y promover un enfoque más positivo y flexible hacia sus desafíos.

With overwhelming work awaiting them, Executives tend to play endlessly scenarios in their head which consumes their energy. And while working on the mindset and on the limiting beliefs such as Fear of not meeting a deadline for instance the best way to abort any fear is to get into Action. I have found that 80 % of overthinking fades away the moment Executives get into action. You practically and technically can't be focusing/working on a task and overthinking it! It is inertia thar feeds Anxious thoughts

Addressing my own limiting beliefs years ago was the beginning of transformation for me. I found it powerful. I used post it notes to write the beliefs down and then work through them with the coach to question them and then re-imagine new beliefs that didn't limit me. It was switching to a growth mindset and I still love to watch the shifts in my coachees now

Steering your coachee away from the pitfalls of overthinking and analysis paralysis is an art. One powerful brushstroke involves guiding them to set clear and realistic goals for their decision-making journey. Breaking It Down: Transform daunting decisions into manageable steps and milestones. This not only demystifies the process but also provides a roadmap to success. Setting Deadlines: Time-bound decisions gain momentum. Assist your coachee in setting a deadline and adhering to it. This creates a sense of urgency and fosters decisive action.

You would want the entire project to be done right? This will only drain your thoughts and energy unless you fragment the entire plan and goals into milestones. One step at a time!

In my experience if we can make them aware of what is their real issue asap then can help them move to their goal quickly. Normally, they will be very easy for them to set up some goal or something that they think it is a goal that they want but after a few selfreflection, it would be help them to get a clear understanding of what they need .

It is important to have a feedback loop from a trusted coach or advisor. This person can provide the validation and encouragement you need to identify the problem and opportunities that you maybe missing. This feedback loop will help you innovate and improve.

A corollary to setting deadlines is to timebox certain bits of work, e.g. spend max 10 minutes on a certain task - to encourage finding a time-efficient solution.

This is a huge part of my approach. I'm very much values led as a coach and believe deeply in unconditional positive regard, kindness and gratitude. When I show up in this way, it helps my coachees to adopt a similar outlook. Coaching journeys can be transformative but that can often be emotional or the change can be challenging. Staying stuck is hard and change is hard; choose your hard. That is very true but if we add a dose of compassion to it, it can happen with less friction and difficulty. Doing a feelings check in, review points on thoughts and feelings, a few deep breaths or journalling can all assist depending on what the coachee wants to use. I love doing daily meditation, journal and yoga to stay connected to myself & grounded

Never underestimate the power of meditation and silence as it will be an important tool in self-care and mindfulness. If you have not practiced meditation, you may find it difficult to sit in the silence. Start slow and keep the time to a minimum. The important thing is just to sit and do nothing. If practiced on a daily basis, you will find that you will slowly escape the world of noise and racing thoughts to a place of mindfulness.

Mindfulness and self-care are crucial in cultivating a growth mindset, as they encourage a state of active, open attention to the present. Practicing mindfulness helps individuals become more aware of their thoughts and feelings, reducing stress and enhancing focus. Self-care routines contribute to overall well-being, creating a foundation for resilience and adaptability. By integrating these practices, individuals can better embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, fostering a mindset that values learning and personal development over immediate perfection. This holistic approach not only improves mental and emotional health but also propels personal and professional growth.

Be mindful of what feeling comes up to you and.. when. Feelings that emerge when our energy are depleted or when a problem arises are temporary. Feelings that accompany you all through your day and every day are something to attend to and process. I strongly recommend not to bypass those feelings as they will impact your entire attitude with the team. Here what you can do : Identify the feeling/ label it Identify the trigger Know how to prevent it in the future if it is an external trigger Know how to self manage if this is something that has to do with you Reach out for help to structure how to deal with these moments!

Setting deadlines and understand what the first output should look like is key to avoid overthinking, over-researching, and over-analyzing the subject. Setting tighter deadline is important because of Parkinson’s law suggesting that work will expand to fill the time allocated for it. Knowing what your first output should be is crucial to set clear objective for the research/thinking part of it. Otherwise you are risking wast in time on analyzing unnecessary information. Bonus: as a coach I can hold them accountable. And no one likes to feel ashamed in front of others for not completing what they said they would do. Unfortunately, avoid in a negative feeling such as shame is a bigger motivator than going after a good feeling of finishing!

Like any other area of coaching, to address overthinking and paralysis, we need to help the coachee get to the root cause. As he gains insight on the root cause, coach should help him draw up a different and more effective way to deal with such situations i.e. the situations causing overthinking. Once the plan is in place, encourage the coachee to practice it even if he fails or falters, by sharing examples of how new coping responses are learnt and internalized. As the coachee experiences success and the same is appreciated, he/she gains confidence and over a period of time, he develops an effective coping response to the situations that were earlier causing overthinking / paralysis.

Here are some strategies that I employ to help my coachees/clients overcome overthinking and analysis paralysis: 1. Mind Mapping for Clarity: I encourage the use of mind maps to organize thoughts and break down complex problems into manageable parts. 2. Limit Information Intake: I advise the coachees to limit the amount of information they gather to what is essential. Too much information can lead to decision fatigue and analysis paralysis. 3. Encourage Action: I constantly ensure that they shift the focus from thinking to doing. Sometimes, taking even a small action can break the cycle of overthinking. 4. Developing a 'Good Enough' Mindset: I encourage the acceptance of solutions that are 'good enough' rather than perfect.

Combat overthinking and analysis paralysis by taking small, actionable steps toward your larger goals. When thoughts stall, break them down into manageable tasks. Whether it's perceived risk, motivation, or capability, focus on the next crucial action. Don't be overwhelmed by the big picture—success lies in the power of consistent, incremental progress towards the moonshot. #CoachingForAction #ActionOverOverthinking

Rather than emphasizing overthinking and analysis as leadership skills, encourage a shift in mindset towards embracing the process. As leaders, we often set SMART goals, but we may overlook the importance of maintaining focus on the process or the pathway to achieving these goals. Recognise that individuals have varying capacities and to concentrate on the approach that suits them while working towards these goals is the way. The ability to adjust and recalibrate provides the freedom needed to keep stress levels minimal. While having goals is essential, the key is to concentrate on the process of attaining them. Optimal productivity is achieved when one is happy, aligned, and avoids overthinking. No more reliving the ordeal in your mind.

I use human design as a tool with my coachees. I believe that truly knowing yourself makes a huge difference. The more I've learned about who I truly am and my inner guidance, the more decisive I've been. Overanalyzing and overthinking are at least in part a product of not knowing ourselves, our purpose, and our direction.

Adopting a "solution focused" approach is how I ensure that the coachee is not stuck in a spiral of overthinking. For me, the first step is always about helping the coachee build a mindset of "action" and "progress". After the goal has been established, I, as a coach ensure that my coachee makes the necessary shift in focus to/ towards "realisation of goals". Helping the coachee to learn maintaining a balance between the time spent on planning and on execution will ensure that continuous improvement is always happening and every milestone is achieved on time.