How Great Leaders Make Smart Decisions

What if you could make better decisions with less stress? Kristen and Mike go deep into the science of decision-making, exploring why it's such a crucial leadership skill and sharing practical frameworks to help you decide with confidence. They reveal surprising research showing that leaders make around 35,000 decisions daily and that 85% of leaders have experienced decision distress in the past year. But there's hope - by understanding cognitive biases, using structured processes, and learning when to delegate decisions, you can dramatically improve your decision-making abilities. Whether you're struggling with decision fatigue or want to help your team make better choices, this episode offers concrete tools you can start using today.

Download your free PDF of the BRIEFED decision-making framework reviewed in the episode: llpod.link/decision

Highlights:

• Why quick, authoritative decision-makers are often seen as more effective leaders
• The optimal amount of information needed before making a decision (hint: it's not 100%)
• How System 1 (fast) and System 2 (slow) thinking affect our choices
• Common cognitive biases that impact decision-making, including anchoring bias and sunk cost fallacy
• Introduction to the BRIEFED decision-making framework for complex decisions
• A practical matrix for knowing which decisions to make yourself vs delegate to your team
• Why debriefing after important decisions is crucial (and often skipped)

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Download the BRIEFED Decision-Making Framework
• Oracle Study: The Decision Dilemma
• MIT Sloan Review: Effective Leaders Decide About Deciding
• The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier
• Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
• Iron-Sharpened Leadership by John L. Gronski
• Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
• It's Your Ship by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff
• Playing to Win by A.G. Lafley

Related Episodes:

• #2 The New Playbook for Leadership Presence
• #5 A Leader’s Guide to Imposter Syndrome
• #9 Leadership Book Club: The Coaching Habit

Podcast Website: www.loveandleadershippod.com
Instagram: @loveleaderpod

Follow us on LinkedIn!
Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/
Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-364970111/

Learn more about Kristen's leadership coaching and facilitation services: http://www.emboldify.c