Leaders are paid to make decisions, ostensibly good ones. You have to be ready to swing for the one that becomes a home run.

More and more research is being dedicated to examining how leaders make decisions and what behaviors impact outcomes both positive and negative. What we know is leaders are much better making decisions for others than for themselves. The reason has to do with decision fatigue. Making decisions for others (vs. the self) is less depleting because it is more enjoyable.

Managing decision fatigue can help you make better decisions. President Obama wears the same thing everyday. He told Vanity Fair “You’ll see I wear only gray or blue suits … I”m trying to pare down decisions. I don’t want to make decisions about what I’m eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make.”

What can you do to reduce your decision fatigue and be a better decision maker?

Take a five  minutes to identify daily decisions you make that could be simplified, like what to wear, where to eat lunch, etc. Automate or minimize the routine decision making you have in your life so your energy is ready for the important stuff.