By Sarah Betadam, CIO & CISO
We all spend time in our heads. We replay conversations, anticipate questions, analyze risks, and try to prepare for every possible outcome. Thoughtful planning helps us make better decisions and avoid mistakes.
At times, there is a fine line between preparing and overthinking. I know this because I’ve done it myself.
For the past several years, I’ve worked to build a business case for a major technology initiative that I believed was important for our future growth. Along the way, the proposal was revised and rejected more than once. Each time, I found myself analyzing every angle, anticipating every objection, and reworking the argument again.
Eventually, I realized I had spent so much time thinking about the problem that I needed to step out of my own head and focus on a simpler question: What is the right thing for the people we serve and the future we are building?
When I came back to that question, the answer became clear: I still needed to listen and address concerns, but I also needed the courage to say that I believed it was the right thing to do.
That experience reminded me of a few lessons when you get stuck in an endless cycle of thinking:
- Stay connected to your purpose and values, especially when decisions are difficult.
- Don’t let assumptions or fears do all the talking.
- Ask for help and seek out mentors, colleagues, and thought partners who can challenge your thinking.
- If you genuinely believe something can make a positive difference for the company or teams you support, don’t give up too soon.
Many of the best innovations begin with someone willing to speak up, even when the outcome is uncertain.
As organizations grow and evolve, all of us will face moments where the easy choice is to stay quiet or turn the same question over one more time. I have learned that what gets me unstuck isn’t more analysis. It is stepping back and reconnecting with why the work matters, asking someone I trust what they see, and then moving forward.
What I keep coming back to is this: Our most meaningful progress happens when we focus on how we can serve others. When your purpose is grounded in helping people succeed, courage follows.