Decision-Making Under Pressure

by Erik Garcia

As a leader, decisions are part of your daily rhythm. But not all decisions are equal—and some carry more weight than others.

Under pressure, even seasoned leaders can fall into traps: overthinking, reacting too quickly, or second-guessing themselves after the fact. Stress clouds clarity, and fatigue makes it harder to trust your gut or your process.

In this episode, ⁠⁠Erik Garcia⁠⁠, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™, and ⁠⁠Dr. Matt Morris, LMFT⁠⁠ break down the hidden costs of poor decision-making and offer tools to help you slow down, stay grounded, and make confident choices—even in high-stakes moments. Because the quality of your decisions shapes the direction of your leadership.

Episode Highlights:

Erik shares wisdom from a mentor on why stepping away from the office can enhance decision clarity. (01:21)
Matt discusses how minimizing trivial decisions, like wardrobe choices, can preserve mental energy for high-stakes calls. (03:39)
Erik explains how decision fatigue impacts professionals, citing studies on judges and doctors. (05:24)
Matt outlines three major decision pitfalls: analysis paralysis, emotional bias, and tunnel vision. (06:34)
Erik and Matt explore how leisure, nature, and rest aid complex decision-making clarity. (13:27)
Erik breaks down Ben Franklin’s pros/cons method and introduces an 80/20 rule for data sufficiency. (18:26)
Matt explains the OODA Loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) as a tactical decision-making framework. (27:00)
Erik offers three confirmation techniques to ensure a decision is sound before acting. (30:00)
Matt concludes that consistent, value-aligned frameworks beat perfectionism when making decisions. (37:03)

Key Quotes:

“ Since we have to make so many decisions, it’s important to create time in our day to make decisions.” – Dr. Matt Morris, LMFT
“Oftentimes we tend to be in a better state of mind to make hard decisions when we’re not necessarily thinking about the very thing that we’re trying to decide on” – Erik Garcia, CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™
“Every decision maker has to develop processes for making decisions over time.” – Dr. Matt Morris, LMFT

Resources Mentioned:

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