Techniques For Improving Decision-Making Under Pressure

The higher the stakes, the harder it becomes to hear yourself think. When tension rises, the default is to speed up. Fill the silence. Push through uncertainty with urgency. But some of the worst decisions get made in that headspace. Clarity doesn’t come from pressure. It comes from presence. Simple practices like breath awareness and short pauses between meetings aren’t soft skills. They’re structure. They allow leaders to observe before reacting, and to respond without bringing yesterday’s stress into today’s conversation. Decision quality improves when the nervous system is calm. Not passive. Not disengaged. Just steady. I’ve found that centered leadership doesn’t just benefit the person making the call. It shifts the energy in the room. It creates space for better thinking, deeper listening, and more resilient outcomes. If you’re navigating complexity, try slowing down your response time—not your progress. Presence might be your most underused advantage.

If you’re constantly second-guessing yourself, it’s not because you’re broken. For years, I thought I had to feel confident before I acted. Turns out, that’s backwards. You act first. The confidence comes later. ↗️ Here are 5️⃣ tactics I’ve used—from the cockpit to entrepreneurship—to build internal trust and take bold action even when I didn’t feel ready: 1. Act before you feel ready. ✅ Confidence isn’t a prerequisite—it’s a byproduct. Small, imperfect actions stack up. That’s how momentum builds. 2. Rehearse. Rewire. Repeat. ✅ Pilots don’t just wing it (pun intended). We run simulations in our heads, on paper, and in practice. Reps reduce fear and increase speed. 3. Debrief everything. ✅ No growth without reflection. After every mission (or meeting), ask: What worked? What didn’t? What’s next? No shame. Just intel. 4. Set your “Go/No-Go” criteria early. ✅ Identify your decision points before the pressure hits. That’s how you act with clarity instead of emotion. 5. Focus on the next closest alligator. ✅ Overwhelm kills action. Dial in on the one thing that matters right now. Handle the next threat once you get there. Which one do you need most today? Drop a number in the comments. 👇 ------------------------ Hi, I’m Michelle "MACE" Curran, a former fighter pilot turned speaker and author. I help people turn fear into fuel and take bold action, improving their lives and creating higher-performing teams.

One thing I often share with leaders navigating high-pressure moments: your first move doesn’t have to be action — it can be a question. That simple shift can change everything. When a situation feels urgent or emotionally charged, our instinct is often to react quickly and decisively. But the truth is, most situations aren’t fully understood at the moment and reacting too quickly can make things worse. Asking a question helps shift your mindset from emotion to information. It creates space to think, gain clarity, and respond with intention, not impulse. Some examples: - What is the real need here in this situation?  - What is the greatest risk? Are any of the risks catastrophic?  - Who wins and loses based on how this situation resolves? - What led to this exact point in the crisis? It’s a small habit, but it can make a big difference in how you lead under pressure.

Ever been in a meeting that feels like a hamster wheel of indecision? The same points circling endlessly, everyone is tired but no conclusion in sight? Decision paralysis costs organizations dearly—not just in wasted meeting time, but in missed opportunities and team burnout. After studying teams for years, I've noticed that most decision stalls happen for predictable reasons: • Unclear decision-making process (Who actually decides? By when?) • Hidden disagreements that never surface • Fear of making the wrong choice • Insufficient information • No one feeling authorized to move forward    The solution isn't mysterious, but it requires intention. Here's what you can do: First, name the moment. Simply stating, "I notice we're having trouble making a decision here" can shift the energy. This small act of leadership acknowledges the struggle and creates space to address it. Second, clarify the decision type using these levels: • Who has final authority? (One person decides after input) • Is this a group decision requiring consensus? • Does it require unanimous agreement? • Is it actually a collection of smaller decisions we're bundling together?    Third, establish decision criteria before evaluating options. Ask: "What makes a good solution in this case?" This prevents the common trap of judging ideas against unstated or contradictory standards. Fourth, set a timeline. Complex decisions deserve adequate consideration, but every decision needs a deadline. One team I worked with was stuck for weeks on a resource allocation issue. We discovered half the team thought their leader wanted full consensus while she assumed they understood she'd make the final call after hearing everyone's input. This simple misunderstanding had cost them weeks of productivity. After implementing these steps, they established a clear practice: Every decision discussion began with explicitly stating what kind of decision it was, who would make it, and by when. Within a month, their decision-making improved dramatically. More importantly, team members reported feeling both more heard and less burdened by decision fatigue. Remember: The goal isn't making perfect decisions but making timely, informed ones that everyone understands how to implement. What's your go-to approach when team decisions get stuck? Share your decision-making wisdom. P.S. If you’re a leader, I recommend checking out my free challenge: The Resilient Leader: 28 Days to Thrive in Uncertainty  https://lnkd.in/gxBnKQ8n