Weekend Boost No. 178

MAKING DECISIONS UNDER PRESSURE

For the past year, in conversation after conversation with leaders across global development and social impact, I’ve been hearing the same tension.

This week I had the opportunity to name something that has been sitting just beneath many of those conversations.

We talk about alignment as if it means balance- as if the need, our principles, and the landscape will line up neatly.

They rarely do.

Here are three resources to support you as you think about how you’re leading your decisions….
 

First, a LinkedIn post that shares some of the insight that is resonating right now around what it takes to make aligned decisions under-pressure. 

“The Disciplined Pursuit of Less” (Harvard Business Review)- a sharp reminder that clarity often comes not from adding more, but from eliminating what dilutes focus. (PDF attached) 

A thoughtful summary from Verbal to Visual on Annie Duke’s Thinking in Bets that explores how to make sound decisions without having all the facts, and how to separate decision quality from outcome.

“Noise: How to Overcome the High, Hidden Cost of Inconsistent Decision Making” (Harvard Business Review)- This is a well-respected article that explains what “noise” is and why it matters for judgment and decisions. It’s accessible and practical for leaders.

THE PRACTICE

Take a minute to think about a decision that is on your plate right now - personal or professional. 

Using the alignment test from the LinkedIn post- map out the principles, the need, and the landscape that all relate to these decisions.