Changing our minds at the last minute is a common outcome of the overall decision process.

Over time, as we gather more information and our excitement wanes, we see the pros and cons more clearly.

The keys are avoiding getting swept up in emotions and bringing our rational brain back online.

Sam was recruited for a new job. The VP took him out to lunch and said they were looking forward to his coming on board. Sam left the meeting feeling excited and wanted; the job seemed like a good challenge, a step up in his career, and the company a good fit. But as he toured the offices, he found himself, to his own surprise, changing his mind. He gave himself the evening to think it over, but then called the department head and said he was sorry but had decided to decline the offer.

Why the last-minute about-face? Here’s what’s likely driving it:

The decision triangle

We can think of the decision-making process as a triangle, with its broad base at the bottom and its point at the top. When Sam first hears about the job, or you go on a first date with someone new, your emotions are likely a mix of excitement and ambivalence simply because you don’t know much about the job or the other person. As you get to know them, gather more information, and move up the triangle, your feelings become clearer: Yes, you’re really interested in the job, the person.

But as........

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