_{A Monthly Newsletter: June 2025}

Welcome to the June edition of my monthly newsletter! As the year is progressing, I reflected on the challenges that my clients often face and we discuss in sessions. One that jumps out is decision making under pressure. This is often a significant hurdle for individuals as they progress into more challenging leadership roles, so I wanted to provide some guidance and tools that can help.

Making Effective Decisions Under Pressure: A Leader's Toolkit

When the stakes are high and every second counts, leaders are expected to make clear, confident choices. But effective decision-making under pressure is not about having all the answers—it's about equipping yourself with the right strategies to stay grounded, focused, and decisive. Here’s how you can build your own toolkit for making smart decisions when it matters most.

Reframe the Situation

One of the most powerful tools is a simple mindset shift: instead of seeing a crisis as a problem, view it as a challenge to overcome. This reframing reduces anxiety and encourages creative problem-solving, allowing you to engage with the situation rather than fear it.

Prepare with Pre-Mortem Analysis

Before making a major decision, conduct a “pre-mortem” by imagining your plan has failed and identifying what could have caused it. This proactive step helps you anticipate obstacles and address potential pitfalls before they become real issues.

Practice Mindfulness and Mental Rehearsal

Mindfulness keeps you present, reducing stress and improving focus. Techniques like guided meditation or deep breathing can help you stay calm and make clearer choices. Mental rehearsal—visualizing scenarios and your responses—prepares you for challenges and reduces cognitive overload when real decisions arise.

Emotional Regulation

Pressure can cloud judgment. Effective leaders practice emotional regulation through controlled breathing, positive self-talk, or progressive muscle relaxation. These techniques keep emotions in check, ensuring decisions are based on reason, not reaction.

Clarify Objectives and Priorities

In fast-moving situations, clarity is crucial. Define your desired outcomes and set clear priorities. This focus helps you quickly eliminate less viable options and concentrate on what truly matters.

Leverage Data and Technology

When possible, use real-time data and decision-support systems to inform your choices. Data-driven decisions reduce uncertainty and improve outcomes, especially when conditions are changing rapidly.

Seek Input, But Act Decisively

Consult trusted advisors or team members for diverse perspectives, but don’t let the search for consensus delay action. Timely decisions are often better than perfect ones in high-pressure scenarios.

Build a Supportive Decision-Making Culture

Encourage open communication and transparency within your team. Foster an environment where people feel safe to share ideas and learn from mistakes. Recognize and reward effective decision-making to build confidence and resilience across your organization.

The Top 5 Tools for Making Effective Decisions Under Pressure

Here are five impactful tools recognized for their effectiveness in high-pressure leadership situations:

1. OODA Loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act)

A rapid, iterative process that helps leaders quickly assess situations, adapt to changes, and make timely decisions. The OODA Loop is especially valuable in dynamic, fast-moving environments.

2. Scenario Planning

By envisioning multiple possible futures and developing response strategies, leaders can anticipate challenges and reduce uncertainty. Scenario planning prepares you for a range of outcomes, making it easier to act decisively under pressure.

3. Decision Support Systems (DSS)

These software platforms aggregate, analyze, and present data to inform complex decisions. DSS tools are invaluable when you need to make informed choices quickly, especially when dealing with incomplete or evolving information.

4. Risk Assessment Tools

Systematically identifying and evaluating risks allows leaders to anticipate obstacles and plan mitigation strategies. This reduces surprises and builds confidence in decision-making during stressful situations.

5. Mindfulness and Stress-Management Techniques

Practices such as deep breathing, meditation, and mental rehearsal help leaders stay calm, focused, and clear-headed. Emotional regulation is essential for making rational decisions under pressure.

In Summary:
Combining structured frameworks (like the OODA Loop and scenario planning) with technology (DSS and risk assessment tools) and personal resilience (mindfulness) provides leaders with a robust toolkit for effective decision-making—even in the most demanding circumstances.

ps. When you’re ready…..I help leaders and teams through in-person team training and coaching, 1:1 coaching and career coaching. Reach out for a complimentary intro call

Inject Energy into Your Team Meetings!

Did you know I provide webinars, lunch and learns and team building sessions?

How it works

1. We curate the topic and need together, meeting as many times as you require to discuss the outcome you are looking for.

2. We agree a date/time and schedule that in!

3. I create the content for your review with changes being made until you are completely satisfied with the content.

4. Delivery is then either online or in-person!

5. We conduct a debrief after the session to discuss future needs and outcomes!

The picture above is taken from a recent ‘breakfast and learn’ 1hr session, I delivered in person around the topic of communication and feedback!

Want to learn more? Drop me a message entitled ‘Team Session Inquiry’ to [email protected].

Referring Someone in Your Network

It makes sense that you trust your colleagues and friends to provide great professional contacts. So, if someone in your network could use coaching and/or team training support, please introduce us!

My LinkedIn profile for sharing is here.

I’m very grateful for everyone who connects me with their colleagues and friends. Thank you!

Emma