The Neuroscience of Decision-Making. How to Make Smarter Choices Under Pressure
👋🏻 Hello growth seekers,
In 1962, NASA’s Friendship 7 mission was a make-or-break moment for the United States in the Space Race, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher. John Glenn was set to become the first American astronaut to orbit Earth, but as preparations reached their climax, he made an unusual request: “Get the girl to check the numbers.” That “girl” was Katherine Johnson, a brilliant mathematician whose calculations could ensure his safe reentry—or lead to catastrophe if even the slightest error was made. Glenn wasn’t comfortable trusting the early IBM computer entirely; he wanted Katherine’s expertise to verify the trajectory. With time running out, Katherine reviewed the complex equations by hand, knowing that lives, reputations, and the future of space exploration were on the line. Yet, she remained composed, relying on years of meticulous preparation and an unshakable trust in her abilities. Glenn’s mission was a historic success, and Katherine’s name became synonymous with precision and reliability.
This wasn’t Katherine’s first test under pressure, nor was it her last. As a Black woman in a segregated America, her journey to that moment had been marked by resilience and determination. Born in 1918, Katherine showed an early aptitude for math and an insatiable curiosity, graduating from college at just 18. Despite the barriers of systemic racism and gender discrimination, she carved out a place for herself in the male-dominated world of aerospace engineering. Her role at NASA wasn’t handed to her; she fought for it, proving herself time and again as someone whose brilliance could not be ignored. In an environment where failure was not an option, Katherine’s ability to rise above fear and focus on the task at hand became her defining characteristic.
🧠 Mastering the Pressure
Katherine’s story is a masterclass in making decisions under pressure, a skill that anyone climbing the corporate ladder must eventually master. Neuroscience tells us that when we face high-stakes situations, our brain’s amygdala, the center of fear and stress, can hijack logical thinking, leading to impulsive or poor decisions. Katherine’s ability to stay grounded was not a matter of luck or innate talent; it was a result of deliberate practice, preparation, and discipline. She understood the importance of focusing on what she could control—her calculations, her process, and her unflinching commitment to accuracy. This approach enabled her to suppress distractions and emotions that could have derailed her work, especially in an environment where mistakes could have life-or-death consequences.
🤝 Trust, Collaboration, and Purpose
Katherine’s success also highlights the power of relationships and purpose in achieving greatness. While her technical skills were unmatched, her ability to work collaboratively and advocate for herself set her apart in NASA’s male-dominated environment. She understood the importance of earning trust through consistent performance and leveraging that trust to build meaningful professional alliances. Glenn’s reliance on her calculations was not just a testament to her accuracy but also to the respect she had cultivated among her peers. For professionals striving to climb the corporate ladder, this balance of competence and relationship-building is essential. Being right is often not enough; you must also communicate your value effectively and forge connections that allow your contributions to shine.
Just as important was Katherine’s unwavering sense of purpose. She didn’t approach her work as simply solving equations; she saw herself as part of a mission that transcended individual recognition. Her contributions to NASA’s space program were driven by a belief in the importance of exploration and progress. This larger purpose gave her the clarity and resilience to push through obstacles, whether they were systemic biases or the immense technical challenges of her work. Professionals navigating demanding careers can draw inspiration from this: connecting your daily tasks to a broader mission can provide the motivation and perspective needed to persevere. Katherine’s story reminds us that the path to success isn’t just about doing great work—it’s about aligning that work with something bigger than yourself.
Practical tools
In this "Practical Tools" section, we've put together a set of resources to support your personal growth journey. Chosen for those keen to explore deeper and refine their leadership qualities, these tools are designed with genuine intention. Here, it's all about taking meaningful steps towards personal betterment. Let's begin!”
🧠 Mental Modeling: Reducing Cognitive Overload
When Katherine Johnson recalculated John Glenn’s reentry trajectory, she wasn’t just crunching numbers—she was creating a mental model to simulate outcomes. This approach involves breaking decisions into key components, understanding their relationships, and predicting results. By visualizing scenarios, you reduce cognitive overload and focus on possibilities. For high-pressure situations, such as resource allocation, map out variables like time, risks, and goals to see the bigger picture clearly and choose wisely.
🎯 The "Critical Path" Method: Prioritizing What Truly Matters
Katherine excelled at pinpointing what was essential, a skill mirrored in the Critical Path Method used in project management. This approach focuses on identifying tasks that are critical to success and addressing bottlenecks. In practice, isolate your most impactful actions, like securing a pivotal stakeholder's approval, and tackle them first. By honing in on what truly matters, you can ensure that your energy drives the best results, even under tight deadlines.
🤝 Decision Rooms: Collaborative Clarity
While Katherine shone individually, her work thrived in collaboration. The concept of decision rooms builds on this, encouraging diverse teams to stress-test ideas. Presenting your options to people with varied perspectives fosters robust debate and uncovers blind spots. If weighing a big career move, seek input from mentors, peers, or even subordinates. Collaboration turns singular decisions into well-rounded, strategic ones.
🕰️ Pre-Mortem Analysis: Solving Problems Before They Happen
Katherine didn’t wait for things to go wrong—she anticipated risks and solved them in advance. The pre-mortem analysis applies this by imagining a project has failed and identifying why. For example, before launching a product, ask, What are the most likely pitfalls? Addressing these early builds resilience and ensures smoother execution.
Food For Thought
Welcome to the "Food for Thought" section, your gateway to a curated selection of resources that will nourish your curiosity and inspire your creative journey. In this corner of Growth Republic, we bring a collection of insightful resources that you can look for on the web, from thought-provoking podcasts or books, to illuminating online articles that can expand your horizons and deepen your understanding of the topics we explore. Consider it your intellectual pantry, stocked with ingredients to feed your mind, and ignite your creativity. Dive into these resources and let the feast of knowledge begin.
📖 Book: "Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work" by Chip and Dan Heath - A practical guide that introduces a four-step process to counteract biases and improve personal and professional decision-making.
📄 Article: "How to Improve Your Decision-Making" by Harvard Business Review - A concise and actionable article detailing techniques to handle high-pressure decisions, manage risks, and improve outcomes.
🎧 Podcast: "Hidden Brain" by Shankar Vedantam - This podcast blends psychology and neuroscience to explore the unconscious patterns driving human behavior, including decision-making challenges.
📝 Article: "The Neuroscience of Strategic Leadership" by MIT Sloan Management Review - A research-based article that connects brain science with effective leadership and decision-making in high-stakes situations.
Quote Of The Week
«In math, you're either right or you're wrong» - Katherine Johnson
About the Author
Hi, I am Cesare Zavalloni. I am a Certified Executive Coach by IMD business school and Associated Certified Coach (ACC), member of International Coaching Federation (ICF). I bring more than 20+ years of experience as corporate executive in Fortune 100 companies and as outdoor adventurer. My purpose is to guide, encourage and inspire young professionals and executives like you to see your authentic leadership nature and the new possibilities this realization creates.
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