A leader’s day is filled with decisions to make: which tools to purchase, which employees to promote, which strategies to pursue, which big bets to move on, and which risks are too high. In fact, leaders spend around 40% of their time making decisions, according to research by McKinsey – but unfortunately, many leaders feel that time investment is ineffective.
A 2023 study by Oracle found that 85% of business leaders experience decision distress, questioning or regretting the choices they’ve made. These doubts can easily spiral into burnout, making it even harder to lead with clarity. To strengthen their judgment, leaders need the right insights, sharp critical thinking skills, and reliable decision-making frameworks that help them see every angle clearly. Instead of acting on gut feelings alone, building a thoughtful decision-making approach can transform uncertainty into confidence and turn tough calls into powerful opportunities for growth.
So, how can you start sharpening your judgment and making better decisions?
Pause first
Being reflective may feel counterintuitive when you're working in a fast-paced and high-stakes environment, but doing so can make a huge difference in your decision-making. Deliberately pausing can help you recalibrate your thoughts and move to the next step with greater clarity and purpose. In fact, Harvard Business School research shows that leaders who engage in regular, structured reflection improve their performance and productivity by 23%. By pausing to consider options and implications, you make faster and more impactful choices in the long run.
Key question: “Where can you create space to reflect before deciding?”
Categorize decision types
Having too many decisions on your plate can lead to overwhelm and poor focus. To avoid this, try categorizing decisions by type, such as “High Risk” (your strategic big bets), “Operational” (team functions), and “Lower Priority” (smaller everyday tasks). Keep in mind that your energy should go toward pivotal, high-risk decisions that require deep research and critical thinking. Take inventory of your high-risk decisions and ask yourself which ones will have the biggest impact on your business goals. Then, rank them by urgency, so you can stay focused on what matters most.
Key question: “What categories do your decisions fall into, and which should you focus on personally?”
Delegate effectively
Empowering your team to make everyday decisions will help free you up to focus on more complicated or strategic ones. This does not happen overnight; you must build a structure around it. Start by ensuring all team members understand your strategy and that everybody knows who owns what, so they can act confidently when making a decision. Operational and lower-priority decisions are best assigned to team members closest to the work and who have been trained and empowered to act confidently. This way, you maintain your own focus while also strengthening your team's ownership of outcomes.
Key question: “How can you empower your team to make decisions confidently and independently?”
Seek diverse perspectives
Don't rely solely on your own perspective to make an important decision, no matter how well-versed you are on the subject matter. You could have blind spots that impair your judgment, so try to get a diverse set of opinions to help you understand the implications of a decision. Seek out experts from diverse backgrounds to weigh in – especially if they disagree with you! During your sessions with them, ask questions that get to the heart of the situation by inspiring everyone to think critically. For example, you might present a specific decision and ask everyone, "Will this decision hold up a year from now?" or "List the best and worst case scenarios if we go in this direction." Your goal is to understand all sides of the situation to make the strongest choice. The added bonus of bringing in others is that you're showing that their insights matter. When people feel included and respected, they’re more likely to rally behind the final decision.
Key question: “Who else’s perspective could help you make a stronger decision?”
Check for biases
Before finalizing a decision, ask yourself if you’re falling into common cognitive traps like confirmation bias (only seeking information supporting your beliefs) or herd mentality (aligning with the majority for safety). To challenge these biases, you might consider a “teardown” exercise. This is when you split into teams to analyze decisions from different angles, role-play scenarios, and test assumptions. Doing this can help you spot risks and make sure your choices are grounded in reality.
Key question: “What biases might be shaping your decision without realizing it?”
