How to Make Good Decisions By Stacey Colino

If You’re a Poll-Taker

Should you wear the silver dress or the red dress to that black-tie industry event? You call your sister. Your best friend. Then a coworker. (What's she wearing?) An hour later, you're still staring blankly at your closet.

How to Avoid It:

• Consider why you don't trust yourself. Is it because you've made some bad choices? (Who hasn't?) Because you don't want to be liable for a decision? You'll have to live with its outcome, so it's crucial to determine what you want.
• Imagine yourself in scenarios based on different decisions. Gauge the most comfortable. (How would you feel in the red dress? What about the silver one?) Then choose. Keep in mind that if you make a mistake, it may not really matter. (Other people will be overdressed, too.)
• If you're facing a weighty issue that truly calls for advice, seek out a neutral expert―a marriage counselor, a financial adviser, a career coach―rather than polling friends who have biases. Ask for factors to consider, then come up with the answer yourself.