We're often taught that the key to solving problems is to think harder. But, there comes a point where this approach becomes counterproductive, and we slip into overthinking. We continue, mistakenly believing that just a bit more mental effort will unlock the solution.
As we overthink, we descend into unpleasant feelings: worry, confusion, overwhelm, anxiety, and mental fatigue. Our thoughts become like a tangled fishing line; the more we try to unravel it, the tighter the knots become. The more we overthink, the less clarity we have. Before long, we're in a mental spiral and feeling pretty lousy.
Then, often the next day, the answer surfaces effortlessly. It's almost as if the answer was already there, waiting for the noise to quiet down. It appears when we least expect it - during a shower, while making coffee, on a walk, or even in a casual conversation about something unrelated.
This is because we've tapped into our natural capacity for insight, which often holds the best solutions. This inherent wisdom is always there, like the sun behind the clouds, waiting to shine.
Here's the intriguing part: you can't access this wisdom through more thinking. It emerges naturally when your mind is settled. Just as you can't see a clear reflection in turbulent water, you can't access wisdom with an agitated mind.
It turns out that overthinking is vastly overrated.
So, what should we do about overthinking?
Firstly, it’s important to recognise that overthinking feels bad for a reason. It's like the warning light on a car engine, designed to get our attention. If it didn't feel unpleasant, we wouldn't know we were caught in its trap. That feeling is simply a signal that we've shifted from productive thought to something else entirely.
Secondly, you can’t think your way out of overthinking. Thinking is precisely what got us into this state, and we can’t use the same approach to escape it. It’s like trying to remove a stuck nail with a hammer – sometimes, we need a completely different tool.
All we can do is allow our minds to settle. Imagine the chaos of a storm within you. Like the snow in a snow globe, when the shaking stops, the glitter settles and the scene becomes clear. You can't force your mind to settle, and that's okay. But, like the snow globe, if you simply stop shaking it, settling will occur naturally. Letting go of the need to 'figure it out' is the key here, allowing space for clarity to emerge naturally.
As tech leaders who think deeply, much of our work is about navigating the unexpected. We encounter situations that no amount of planning could have foreseen. The good news is that, as humans, we're well-equipped to handle life in real-time. If we can access our wisdom during moments of crisis, we'll have a good chance of navigating them successfully.
It's tempting, as a leader, to think we should always have the answers. When we see our team caught in ‘analysis paralysis', our first instinct might be to add more thinking to the mix. But what if, instead, we helped them settle their minds and tap into their natural wisdom? What if we created spaces where clarity could emerge naturally? This might mean shortening meetings, starting with a few moments of quiet, or encouraging team members to step away when they feel stuck.
When teams grasp this concept, everything shifts. Meetings become more productive, decisions flow more easily, and innovation arises naturally, not from thinking harder, but from thinking clearer.
So, remember that overthinking feels bad because it's a signal – a sign that it's time to step back and let your natural wisdom guide you. Take that as your signal to step away and do something different. Let your mind settle. And be open to the solutions that effortlessly come to you.
