Why Decision-Making Is Becoming Harder for C-Suite Leaders—and How You Can Overcome It

The ability to make sound decisions has always been a defining leadership capability. But for today’s C-suite leaders, the challenge is greater than ever. Rapid change, increasing uncertainty, and a constant flow of information mean leaders are often required to make high-stakes decisions without having all the answers. In this episode of Leadership Lounge, Emma Combe sits down with leadership advisors Ilana Abramowicz and Henryk Krajewski to explore why decision-making is becoming more challenging in the C-suite—and the practices leaders can adopt to make better decisions and sustain performance. They discuss: ▪ The forces making decision-making harder at the top of organizations ▪ How leaders can navigate decisions when every option involves difficult trade-offs ▪ The practical tools leaders can use to make better decisions under pressure “Go fast where learning is cheap. Be careful where being wrong is expensive.” Henryk Krajewski Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds Associates Four things you'll learn from this episode: 1. Great decision-making starts with creating space to think. C-suite leaders who are “always on" risk burnout and decision fatigue, making it harder to exercise sound judgment when it matters most. 2. Values provide critical decision-making guardrails. When facts are incomplete and every option carries consequences, clarity about what leaders stand for helps them make difficult decisions with confidence and integrity. 3. Strong leaders know the difference between conviction and ego. The best decision-makers remain open to new evidence and avoid becoming overly attached to their original ideas. 4. High-performing executive teams bring discipline to decision-making. Clear accountability, constructive challenge, and knowing when to move quickly—or slow down—help top teams make better decisions and execute them more effectively. In this episode, we will cover: (02:33) Why leaders often fall into analysis paralysis (04:12) The impact of being "always on" and how it can affect a leader’s judgment (05:54) How personal values help leaders navigate difficult trade-offs (10:40) How executive teams can improve decision-making through clearer decision rights (12:53) How to avoid groupthink and create productive dissent (14:03) The role of pre-mortems to stress-test major decisions (15:27) The one-way-door versus two-way-door-framework for more effective decision-making A closer look at the research from this episode: ▪ Global Leadership Monitor | Russell Reynolds Associates: https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/in... ▪ The New Leadership Portrait: Understanding & Unlocking Senior Executive Potential | Russell Reynolds Associates: https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/in... ▪ Overcome Decision Paralysis: Finding Order in Chaos | Russell Reynolds Associates: https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/in... ABOUT GUESTS Ilana Abramowicz | https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/pe... Henryk Krajewski | https://www.russellreynolds.com/en/pe... ABOUT HOSTS Marla Oates | https://bit.ly/3J3i4J5 Clarke Murphy | https://bit.ly/470UXH4 Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic | https://bit.ly/4aVcJPt Emma Combe | http://bit.ly/4q1udyT ABOUT REDEFINERS In each episode, Russell Reynolds Associates Leadership Advisor Marla Oates, Chief Science Officer Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, and Board and CEO Advisor Clarke Murphy host engaging, purposeful conversations with leaders in and out of the business world who share their insights and perspectives on how they lead, boldly. With each episode, you’ll come away with fresh ideas and tangible takeaways on how you can redefine your own leadership trajectory—no matter where you are on your journey. ABOUT LEADERSHIP LOUNGE Hosted by Emma Combe, this podcast mini-series from Russell Reynolds Associates gives you unfettered access to our global team of veteran leadership experts, who share real-world answers to your most-pressing leadership questions. SUBSCRIBE & DOWNLOAD Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast... Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/5iIg2yq... For more Redefiners/Leadership Lounge, visit https://bit.ly/3WhJuhD FOLLOW US: Instagram:   / redefinerspodcast   LinkedIn:   / russell-reynolds-associates   X: https://www.x.com/RRAonLeadership Russell Reynolds Associates: https://bit.ly/4qhfPmq #redefinerspodcast #russellreynoldsassociates #leadership #executive #CEO