Rewrite Your Leadership Soundtracks: From Limiting Beliefs to Decisive Action

Overthinking can sneak up on leaders. It often starts with good intentions: you want to make the best decision, solve a problem completely, or look at every possible angle. But without realizing it, you can get stuck thinking in circles. This kind of thinking, often rooted in a fear of getting it wrong, leads to delay, doubt, and sometimes, doing nothing at all.

Author Jon Acuff calls this getting stuck in your "soundtracks." In his book Soundtracks, he says, “soundtracks are something we tell ourselves over and over again.” He further explains, “If our days are full of broken soundtracks, thoughts are our worst enemy, holding us back from the things we really want. For leaders, that gap between thinking too much and taking action can cause real problems. It can slow down your team, create confusion, and make you miss out on good opportunities.

This isn't just a personal frustration; it's a widespread leadership challenge. A McKinsey Global Survey found that only 20% of organizations truly excel at making good decisions. Often, it's this kind of hesitation and overthinking that holds them back.

There is good news here, though. Like changing the music you listen to, you can change your mental soundtracks and lead with more clarity and confidence.

1. What Happens When Leaders Overthink?

When you, as a leader, get stuck in overthinking, the effects ripple out to your team:

• Decisions Get Delayed: Opportunities rarely wait. When you spend too much time trying to make the perfect decision, you might miss the right time to act. While caution is good, endless waiting can hurt. Interestingly, research shows that being decisive, making timely choices even without all the answers, is often more important for leadership success than always waiting for absolute certainty.

• Team Energy Stalls: Your team looks to you for direction. If they sense you're unsure or stuck, their energy drops. Momentum fades, focus gets fuzzy, and people might start second-guessing the plan. Acuff calls it "the most expensive, least productive thing companies invest in without even knowing it",  wasted time and stalled progress.

• Simple Things Get Complicated: Not every problem needs a complex solution. But overthinking can cause extra steps. You think you need to keep digging for more information, or tweak things endlessly, always searching for that one last piece that might not even exist.

Leaders need to bring clarity. It's important to know when being careful turns into simply avoiding a decision. Choosing progress over perfection is key.

2. Changing Your Negative Soundtracks

We’ve already stated that Acuff calls these “soundtracks.” Author Michael Hyatt calls similar thoughts "limiting beliefs", the negative messages we tell ourselves that hold us back. You might recognize some of these:

• “I’m not quite ready for this.”

• “That could never work for me?”

• “Someone has probably already tried this.”

These aren't just passing thoughts; they can play on a loop in your head. The more you hear them, the more they shape your choices, often without you even noticing.

But you can stop the loop and write a new script. Here are some ideas on how:

• Notice the Negative Loop: What thoughts keep popping up when you face a challenge or decision? Pay attention. Sometimes just writing them down helps you see them more clearly.

• Challenge the Thought: Is that negative soundtrack actually accurate? Ask yourself Acuff’s three simple questions: Is it True? Is it Helpful (does it push you forward or hold you back)? Is it Kind? Often, these negative thoughts don't pass this test. Think about it: What advice would you give a friend who was telling themselves the same thing? We’re always harder on ourselves than we are on others. Give yourself the same chance you would to a colleague.

• Replace with a New Soundtrack: You get to choose what plays in your head. Start small. Instead of “I’m not ready,” try “I’ve prepared for this. I’m ready enough to start.” Your brain tends to believe what it hears most often, so make sure you're feeding it something useful and positive.

Your mindset matters. Leadership is built on making decisions, and your decisions start with what you believe is possible.

3. Aim for "Good Enough" to Get Going

Trying to be perfect can stop you from making any progress at all. Leaders often feel pressure to have everything flawless, but waiting for perfect can mean missing your chance. Sometimes, “good enough” is exactly what you need to move forward, learn, and let your team grow.

How can you shift from chasing perfection to making progress?

• Know Your Real Priorities: Not every single task needs an A+. Figure out what really matters most for the goal, and put your best effort there. For the rest, let “good enough” be okay.

• Take Small Steps: Progress happens when you move. Break big, scary projects into smaller, manageable actions. Get started, see what happens, and adjust as you go.

• Launch, Learn, and Improve: Instead of trying to get everything perfect before you start, focus on getting something out there. Then, gather feedback and make it better. Taking action builds confidence, and confidence builds momentum.

• Use the 40-70 Rule: Colin Powell, a respected leader, often talked about making decisions when he had between 40% and 70% of the needed information. Waiting for 100% usually means it’s too late. It’s about making a smart call with what you know, not waiting forever for certainty.

"Good enough" isn't about being sloppy. It's about being smart with your time and energy. It’s knowing that perfection is often impossible, but progress always is..

Breaking Through

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers or never making a mistake. It’s about showing up, making thoughtful choices, and guiding your team forward, even in the face of uncertainty. Overthinking, fueled by fear, will always try to pull you back into doubt. But you have the tools to push through. When you notice and replace those negative soundtracks, question the limiting beliefs, and choose progress over perfection, you lead by example. So, look at the next decision waiting for you. Ask yourself, “Is this good enough to move forward?” If the answer is yes, take the step. Great leadership is less about perfect decisions and more about deciding to take consistent, forward-looking steps. 

How can you break out of your negative soundtracks?

Get leadership tips and new articles you can use directly in your inbox. Join the thousands of other leaders continuing your leadership development journey with Effective RetailLeader.com. 

DISCLAIMER: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns commission from qualifying purchases. Other links to third-party products and services may also be affiliate links.