Guessing is not a strategy: How to build decision velocity with AI and real-time data
June 10, 2026 | Live Webinar
Wise Decisions
Here are six core principles for making good decisions and executing them, based on lessons learned from 21 experienced leaders in the corporate and public sectors.
Bryn Zeckhauser and Aaron Sandoski interviewed 21 of the world’s most successful leaders in the public and private sector to better understand how they made difficult decisions at critical moments. In a new book, “How the Wise Decide: The Lessons of 21 Extraordinary Leaders” (Crown; 2008), the authors distill their extensive research into six core decision-making principles — tactics that readily apply to project leaders.
1. Go to the Source. Make it a routine part of your job to gather unfiltered information. By reaching out directly to a source — a team member or stakeholder — you can see things firsthand to fully understand the subtle details, nuances and realities of a situation.
2. Fill a Room with Barbarians. Bring together people with diverse backgrounds and opinions to argue their positions on a problem. Create a culture of candor where vigorous debate can unearth potential solutions in the name of achieving the same goal.
3. Conquer the Fear of Risk. To overcome loss aversion, enlist your entire team to explore opportunities and figure out if a perceived risk is actually far greater than the real risk. Promote more risk-taking and encourage …
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"Of all the 36 alternatives, running away is best." - Chinese Proverb |