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

The New Leadership Portrait: Understanding & Unlocking Senior Executive Potential | Russell Reynolds Associates

Overcome Decision Paralysis: Finding Order in Chaos | Russell Reynolds Associates