Anxiety Is A Double-Edged Sword

HBR.org 2013-10-30

When we’re feeling anxious about making a decision — and this is especially true if it’s a high-stakes decision — we tend to seek the counsel of our friends or colleagues. But this isn’t always a good move to make, and it can lead us astray. Why? When we’re anxious, our ability to tell the difference between “good” advice and “bad” advice is diminished. It’s almost unfair: anxiety makes us run to others for help but it also makes us more susceptible to bad advice. So be careful, keep calm, and carry on.