Episode 31
Avoiding the Fumble: How Leaders Can Make Smarter Calls in Chaos
Hesitation under pressure costs more than a bad decision. This season 2 kick-off episode of The Business Emergency Room unpacks how to make fast, confident calls when the stakes are high.
When everything is unfolding fast, how do you make the right call without second-guessing yourself? Host Maartje van Krieken shares a real-world example of decision-making gone wrong, turning a simple family outing into a mess of miscommunication and last-minute scrambling. The parallels to business are clear: disruption happens, and leaders who hesitate risk bigger problems.
This episode breaks down how to define the decision at hand, communicate what you know (and don’t), and commit to a path even with missing pieces. Decision-making is a skill, and like any skill, it gets stronger with practice.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Welcome to Season Two!
00:43 Leadership in Uncertainty
01:04 Fast Decision-Making in Volatile Situations
02:29 Super Bowl Experience Chaos
03:02 Miscommunication and Assumptions
05:05 Defining the Decision
08:23 Importance of Communication
10:10 Different Assumptions
11:14 Sharing Information
13:23 Don’t Blindly Follow Others
15:02 Decision Frameworks
22:03 Final Takeaways
23:05 Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast
25:15 Closing
Links
Connect with Maartje van Krieken:
https://www.thechaosgamesconsulting.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartje/
https://maartjeturnschaosaround.substack.com/
Host Maartje van Krieken is a crisis strategist and decision-making expert who thrives in high-stakes business environments. Combining disaster management training, hands-on experience in global industries, and leadership skills honed as a seasoned sailor, she helps businesses navigate chaos with precision. Whether tackling transformation, scaling challenges, or leadership bottlenecks, Maartje delivers actionable insights to turn turbulence into traction.
