3 Tips for Making Better (And Faster) Decisions: Leadership Experts Weigh In

Just start running.

You’re in the woods and you come face to face with a bear. What do you do?

Many organizations are facing down bears of their own: major threats like rapid change, a rocky economy, and the rise of AI. And what do they do? “Companies will do a very company thing,” says Neil Hoyne. “They say, ‘The bear is coming at us, and it’s going to kill us—so let’s gather 100 people in a room to try to solve the bear problem.’”

As Google’s chief strategist, Neil has spent almost 9000 hours (over a full year!) talking to CEOs, boards, and investors about how they make decisions and navigate change. He says the best companies he works with do something different when they recognize a threat: “They just start running.” They’re not trying to outrun the bear. They’re just trying to outrun the competition.

So the next time you’re facing a big business challenge, don’t waste time trying to find the perfect data, or the ideal solution. Just start running.

Facing a big decision? Flip a coin.

What sets the most successful people apart? It’s not hard work. It’s their intuition.

Star Northeastern and Harvard business prof Laura Huang has interviewed the world’s most accomplished people: from Pulitzer Prize winners to Olympic athletes. And she found that the most important element in their success was their intuition: the combination of external data and personal experience.

And you can use your gut feel in practical ways both at work and in life. For example, many of us spend so much time gathering inputs and information for a big decision only to find ourselves stuck at the moment of truth. If that’s you, try this: flip a coin. As you see the outcome, note how you’re feeling, and what your inner voice is telling you. Are you excited? Disappointed? Then take that information, trust your gut, and go make your decision.

Take advantage of fresh starts.

Think about the important dates you have coming up. Maybe your birthday or anniversary is around the corner, or your company’s new fiscal year is starting soon. You can use that to inspire change and goal-setting, both individually and as a company.

And if you’re the kind of person whose gym attendance declines dramatically in February, try using your fresh start to do a one-time action that has big effects down the line. For example, in one study, Katy encouraged employees to sign up for their company’s savings program after a fresh start—and saw a 30% increase in savings over the next 8 months.

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Just start running.

You’re in the woods and you come face to face with a bear. What do you do? Many organizations are facing down bears of their own: major threats like rapid change, a rocky economy, and the rise of AI. And what do they do? “Companies will do a very company thing,” says Neil Hoyne. “They say, ‘The bear is coming at us, and it’s going to kill us—so let’s gather 100 people in a room to try to solve the bear problem.’” As Google’s chief strategist, Neil has spent almost 9000 hours (over a full year!) talking to CEOs, boards, and investors about how they make decisions and navigate change. He says the best companies he works with do something different when they recognize a threat: “They just start running.” They’re not trying to outrun the bear. They’re just trying to outrun the competition. So the next time you’re facing a big business challenge, don’t waste time trying to find the perfect data, or the ideal solution. Just start running. https://youtu.be/yY3DZBIds3g?si=1ntDblF7GU-mJFc1

Facing a big decision? Flip a coin.

What sets the most successful people apart? It’s not hard work. It’s their intuition. Star Northeastern and Harvard business prof Laura Huang has interviewed the world’s most accomplished people: from Pulitzer Prize winners to Olympic athletes. And she found that the most important element in their success was their intuition: the combination of external data and personal experience. And you can use your gut feel in practical ways both at work and in life. For example, many of us spend so much time gathering inputs and information for a big decision only to find ourselves stuck at the moment of truth. If that’s you, try this: flip a coin. As you see the outcome, note how you’re feeling, and what your inner voice is telling you. Are you excited? Disappointed? Then take that information, trust your gut, and go make your decision. https://youtu.be/xktMczWvcOU?si=pxH8a8nwCjxC5g4w

Take advantage of fresh starts.

Every January, we make admirable New Year’s resolutions: I’ll go to the gym more, diet more, read more books. Katy Milkman, bestselling author of How to Change, says that “fresh start” mentality doesn’t just affect us at New Year’s. We feel the same way after a birthday, a big holiday like Labor Day, and even the start of a new week. And we can use that to make better decisions. Think about the important dates you have coming up. Maybe your birthday or anniversary is around the corner, or your company’s new fiscal year is starting soon. You can use that to inspire change and goal-setting, both individually and as a company. And if you’re the kind of person whose gym attendance declines dramatically in February, try using your fresh start to do a one-time action that has big effects down the line. For example, in one study, Katy encouraged employees to sign up for their company’s savings program after a fresh start—and saw a 30% increase in savings over the next 8 months. https://youtu.be/PUQsWsTZaAM?si=qZeCESCZoI7lWOMa