Most people believe that the more choices we have, the more it benefits and frees us. Barry Schwartz, professor at Swarthmore College and author of The Paradox of Choice (2004), has spearheaded the debunking of the American myth that more is better. On the contrary: The more choices we have, the more cognitive load is needed to think through the pros and cons of each, and not only is this taxing in the decision making process, but even after the decision is made, the cost to cognitive load doesn’t stop – the brain continues depleting resources wondering if the choices not made were actually better than the choice made. Consider how this cost grows as the number of not-chosen items mushrooms, and you can see where “more is better” breaks down. 

Any institution trying to maximize enrollment while minimizing student overwhelm is dealing with the tension between offering everything students could want or need and actually getting them to know about, access, and use those supports and resources. Even clicking through too many items on a web page can result in students giving up before they locate an idea, person, or resource that could help them. 

Here's where a coach can make a significant difference. Coaches, when students come to you with notable overwhelm, any seeming lack of willingness to seek out suitable support they demonstrate can be a sign of decision fatigue that is sapping cognitive load. This is your chance to act as a sort of “coach concierge,” using affirmations and questions to drive three goals: Student identification of top priority needs, student identification of targeted resources, and student action to connect.

A series of questions might look like this: 

1. You’ve got a lot on your plate right now. What feels like the most important or stressful item? (or, to ask another way: What would feel like the biggest relief to handle in this moment?) 

2. Great to focus in on that! What office or person can you think of that could help you with this challenge? (if student has no ideas, offer brief information on one or two possibilities, and explore them together in your session). 

3. This coaching session is your time, and you can use it to take action. What can you do in this moment to connect and move forward? (Use a digital tool to set up an appointment, email a professor or advisor, put a career fair into their schedule that week…and so on.) 

Advance your coaching skills with LifeBound's next three-day online training course. 

3-Day Inclusive Coaching

February 2, 9, 16

(additional dates below)