What if the outcome went badly—but you still made the right decision?

Leadership rarely gives us complete information or guaranteed results. We make the best call we can, something unexpected happens, and hindsight makes it tempting to judge the decision entirely by how things turned out.

In this episode, Chris talks with keynote speaker, author, former actuary, and champion poker player Steve Fredlund about making better decisions in an uncertain world.

Steve shares lessons from his “Safari Way” framework, including why leaders need to get clear on the experience they’re trying to create, surround themselves with the right “peeps in the Jeep,” and sometimes have the courage to do the “unright” thing—the choice outside the normal, expected path.

The conversation digs especially deep into the difference between a good decision and a good outcome. A leader can make a sound decision and still lose because of circumstances outside their control. Conversely, a poor decision can occasionally produce a great result. If leaders fail to recognize that distinction, they can unintentionally create teams that become afraid to take risks or make decisions.

• Why good decisions can still produce bad outcomes
• How hindsight can distort the way we evaluate ourselves and our teams
• Why leaders should evaluate the decision-making process—not just the result
• How outcome-focused leadership can create risk-averse employees
• Why incomplete information is an unavoidable part of leadership
• How to recognize when gathering more information has become a way to avoid making a decision
• Why a close decision sometimes simply needs to be made
• The value of surrounding yourself with people who challenge your thinking and still support the final decision
• Why hiring for alignment, purpose, and values can matter more than simply hiring the strongest résumé
• How better interview questions reveal more than standard yes-or-no questions
• Why we have more agency than we often realize over the people, choices, and direction of our lives
• Steve’s challenge to leaders: stop trying to control every outcome and embrace the adventure

Steve Fredlund is an award-winning keynote speaker, bestselling author of Do the Unright Thing: Memoir of a People Pleaser, former actuary, nonprofit founder, entrepreneur, and leader of African safaris.

Learn more about Steve and his speaking at SteveFredlund.com and explore his broader work at TheSafariWay.com.

Join the Next Level Leadership Community and find more leadership resources at ParksandRestoration.com.

Better leaders. Better parks.

Parks and Restoration is a podcast and leadership development platform for current and aspiring leaders in parks, conservation, natural resources, and outdoor recreation. Through conversations with leaders from inside and outside the profession, we explore practical lessons about leadership, organizational culture, growth, resilience, and the people behind great parks and healthy lands.

Learn more at ParksandRestoration.com.