Why capable leaders struggle to commit and what it costs them

by George Wilse
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Did you know that most leaders don’t struggle because they lack ability.

They struggle because they’re carrying too many open decisions at once.

You know the feeling:

- Several options on the table
- None of them wrong
- None of them fully chosen

So you wait.
You think a bit more.
You ask one more person.

On the surface, this looks sensible. Underneath, it creates drag.
Unmade decisions quietly drain energy. They sit in the background, stealing focus, creating tension, and slowing everything else down.
Over time, this shows up as:

- Mental fatigue
- Frustration with yourself
- A sense that you’re busy but not moving

The real issue isn’t confidence.
It’s commitment.

Leaders often believe commitment should come after certainty. In reality, certainty usually comes after you commit and take action.

The cost of not committing isn’t dramatic. It’s subtle:

- Opportunities cool off
- Momentum fades
- You stay capable, but stuck in place

If this sounds familiar, it’s not a flaw. It’s a pattern and patterns can be changed.

If you want help clearing the mental backlog and committing without overthinking every move, coaching is where we work through it properly. Book a session when you’re ready to stop circling and start deciding.