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Close the Loop

Some cofounders brainstorm. Others bulldoze.

The difference stems from your Need for Cognitive Closure (NFCC).

Simply put, it’s the drive to resolve ambiguity -now- with whatever answer fits your existing worldview.

• Pro: Fast decisions keep the startup moving. No analysis paralysis.

• Con: Speed comes at a cost. Changing course feels like pulling teeth.

It’s caused by two human tendencies:

• Urgency – How fast you need closure.

• Permanence – How long you hold onto closure.

Your NFCC shapes how you and your cofounder make decisions, handle uncertainty, and respond to new information.

Get it right, and you have a balanced, efficient partnership. Get it wrong, and you’re either spinning in circles or charging off a cliff.

What happens when you and your cofounder have different levels of NFCC?

High NFCC x High NFCC:

Risk: You pivot too fast or echo chamber into decisions prematurely.

Solution: Build in structured "pause points" (post-mortems or monthly reviews).

Low NFCC x Low NFCC:

Risk: Endless analysis. You overthink and lose the first-mover advantage.

Solution: Agree upfront on a "good enough" threshold (50 waitlist signups).

High NFCC x Low NFCC:

Risk: Power struggle. One pushes for action while the other pulls for more data.

Solution: Turn this into a "pilot-and-proof" system. Experiment and analyze.

NFCC isn't good or bad — it’s how you manage it that counts.

What About You?

Not sure if you have high or low NFCC?

Researchers Arne Roets and Alain Van Hiel created a short questionnaire.

Answer on a scale of 1 - 6 where 1 means “strongly disagree” and 6 means “strongly agree”:

1. I don’t like situations that are uncertain.

2. I don’t like questions which could be answered in many different ways.

3. I find that a well-ordered life with regular hours suits my temperament.

4. I’m uncomfortable when I don’t understand the reason something

5. I feel irritated when someone disagrees with what everyone else believes.

6. I don’t like to go into a situation without knowing what I can expect from it.

7. When I’ve made a decision, I feel relieved.

8. When I’m confronted with a problem, I’m dying to reach a solution quickly.

9. I would become irritated if I don’t find a solution to a problem immediately.

10. I don’t like to be with people who are capable of unexpected actions.

11. I dislike it when a person’s statement could mean many different things.

12. I find that establishing a consistent routine enables me to enjoy life more.

13. I enjoy having a clear and structured mode of life.

14. I don’t usually consult many opinions before forming my own view.

15. I dislike unpredictable situations.

Then, add up all your answers.

Below 30 = low NFCC. Above 75 = high NFCC.

That’s all for now,

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