How to Make Better Decisions Under Pressure | Dr. Ali Atkison
When you're leading a growing company, decisions come fast. But how do you know when your experience is helping you make the right call—and when it's causing you to overlook something important?
In this episode of _Leading Through Growth,_ Tony R. Sanders sits down with Dr. Ali Atkison to explore *Deliberate Doubt,* a practical approach to questioning assumptions, challenging your first conclusions, and making better decisions under pressure.
Leaders are expected to have answers. But confidence doesn't mean you have to be certain about everything. Sometimes, the most valuable thing you can do is ask one more question before moving forward.
In this conversation, we explore:
• Why experience and expertise can sometimes limit our thinking
• How to question your assumptions without losing confidence
• The difference between deliberate doubt and indecision
• Why leaders need to consider alternative explanations
• How to make more thoughtful decisions when everything feels urgent
• A simple question that can change how you approach important decisions
*One question to take away from this episode:*
"What am I assuming, and what else could be true?"
Whether you're a manager navigating daily challenges or a People leader helping others develop sound judgment, this conversation offers practical insights for making better decisions in uncertain environments.
*Connect with Dr. Ali Atkison:*
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliatkison
*About Leading Through Growth*
Leading Through Growth features conversations with executives and experts about the challenges and opportunities of leading inside growing companies.
Hosted by Tony R. Sanders, founder of Gawlo.
Explore more episodes: https://www.leadingthroughgrowth.com/
#Leadership #DecisionMaking #CriticalThinking #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadingThroughGrowth
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:45 What Is Deliberate Doubt? Interrupting Certainty with Curiosity
00:08:10 From Expert to Architect: Why Leaders Need to Stop Being the Answer Machine
00:10:56 The Thinking Traps That Distort Leader Judgment
00:15:07 Why Your Brain Treats Uncertainty Like Danger
00:17:03 Confirmation Bias: When Your Story Becomes Your Filter
00:22:23 Binary Thinking: The 52 Percent Failure Rate of Either-Or Decisions
00:27:51 The Three Steps of Deliberate Doubt: Separate Fact from Story
00:35:56 The Laundry Policy: A Real Example of Deliberate Doubt in Action
00:39:03 When to Practice Deliberate Doubt: Moments of Friction
00:44:08 A Good Instinct Can Survive One Thoughtful Question