Escaping the Overthinking Trap: Why Smart People Make Bad Decisions

POV: That moment when hindsight says, “You should have known better.

Maybe you stayed in a role longer than you should have, delayed a move you knew was right, avoided a difficult conversation, or missed an opportunity because you kept waiting for more certainty.

Overthinking often feels responsible. You tell yourself you’re just being careful, thoughtful, or strategic.

But when overthinking goes unchecked, it can quietly cost you – in opportunities you never took, boundaries you didn’t set, money you didn’t negotiate, or decisions you delayed for too long.

The truth is, most people don’t struggle because they aren’t capable.

They struggle because their decision-making patterns work against them.

Your brain is constantly trying to protect you from risk and discomfort. But sometimes those same mental shortcuts lead to hesitation, second-guessing, and choices driven more by fear than by facts.

Dr Jeanne Fredericks has not been exempt from this. Earlier in her career, she stayed too long in organisations that no longer served her, sacrificing years of potential growth because the next move felt uncertain. Eventually, she reached a point where she decided “no more”. She walked away from a comfortable job – twice – and each decision opened the door to greater opportunities and a more fulfilling life.

Today, recognising the right opportunities and acting on them has become second nature, the result of intentionally upgrading how she approaches decision-making.

In this workshop, you’ll explore how your brain shapes your decisions – and how to upgrade your decision-making architecture so it works in your favour.

You’ll learn how to:

• Recognise the cognitive biases influencing your choices
• Stop staying in situations that no longer serve you
• Make decisions without needing 100% certainty
• Separate fear from facts when facing difficult choices
• Break the cycle of regret and self-doubt

This session isn’t about becoming impulsive or reckless. It’s about developing the clarity and confidence to make better decisions at the right time.

Because your future is shaped not only by your abilities – but by the decisions you make along the way.

This session is an investment in becoming a more confident and decisive version of yourself.