As a scaling CEO, you face decisions daily—some with high stakes for your business. Should you invest in a new hire? Should you fire an existing team member that’s been underperforming? Launch a new product? Expand into a new market?
At this level, every decision matters, and the pressure to get it right can be overwhelming. The key is knowing when to rely on intuition and when to lean on data. While both are powerful tools, the sweet spot lies in balancing the two.
One of the biggest mistakes I have observed over the last 14 years working directly with small business owners is that the data is not leveraged nearly enough in making key decisions. And, there is often an over reliance on emotion that can cause more problems than profits if you are not careful.
In this article, I’m excited to share my thoughts on how to make better decisions by mastering both the art and science of leadership.
1. Start with the Data
As a part of your decision making process, my recommendation is that you always review the data first. Data is black and white and when you are leading a company, you have to use what we know to aid the decision-making process. Data is your anchor. It gives you objective insights into what’s working and what’s not, removing emotional bias from your decisions.
- Track Key Metrics: Identify the numbers that matter most to your business (e.g., revenue growth, customer acquisition cost, profit margin). Ensure you’re reviewing them on a daily basis and comparing data week to week, month to month and quarter to quarter.
- Ask “What Does the Data Say?”: Before making a major decision, consult the relevant metrics. For example, if you’re considering increasing your marketing budget, look at the ROI of past campaigns so that as you raise ad spend, you can also project the ROI and additional sales that will result.
- Avoid Analysis Paralysis: Don’t let the search for perfect data stall your progress. Use the best data available, even if it’s incomplete – it’s meant to give you a bench mark not be an absolute.
Pro Tip: Establish a weekly “data review” habit to keep your finger on the pulse of your business. Personally, I look to do this twice a week – on Mondays to start the week and finalize designated strategies and on Friday to review the week and see what we need to adjust for the following week.
2. Listen to Your Gut—It’s Informed by Experience
You are a powerful being. And when you are in full alignment, your intuition or gut will serve you extremely well. Your intuition is more than a “feeling.” It’s a culmination of your experiences, patterns you’ve observed, and insights you’ve gained over time. As human beings having a spiritual experience, your spirit can inform every step you take if you lean into it.
- Recognize Patterns: Often, your gut reactions are based on patterns your brain has subconsciously detected. For example, you might sense when a potential client isn’t aligned, even if they meet the criteria on paper.
- Use Intuition for Fast Decisions: When time is limited, trust your gut to guide smaller, low-risk choices. For instance, deciding whether to join a last-minute collaboration or say no to protect your focus.
- Ask “What Feels Aligned?”: Intuition often points you toward what feels right for your values and vision. If the numbers say yes, but your gut says no, pause and explore why.
3. Combine Data and Intuition for High-Stakes Decisions
For major decisions, like launching a new program or investing in a significant hire, use both data and intuition to guide you.
- Start with the Numbers: Evaluate the potential impact of the decision using data (e.g., projected ROI, team capacity, market demand).
- Layer in Your Intuition: Once the numbers make sense, check in with your gut. Does the decision feel aligned with your long-term vision? Does it excite you, or does something feel off?
- Test Small Before Committing Big: If possible, run a pilot or small-scale version of the decision to validate both the data and your instincts. When making a hire, start with a test project to evaluate the fit and to validate that the candidate is the right fit for the role. This will help to make sure that within 90 days they are fully operational and adding value for the role they were hired to perform.
4. Build a Decision Framework
A decision framework helps you balance intuition and data consistently, so you don’t second-guess yourself. Once you build your framework share it with your team so that they can also make decisions that add value.
- Clarify Your Priorities: Define the top 2–3 criteria every decision must align with, such as profitability, team capacity, or alignment with your vision.
- Evaluate Risk vs. Reward: Consider the potential upside of the decision versus the cost of getting it wrong. This is classic “vision point vs vantage point” and allows you to operate from a field of abundance instead of one of lack.
- Make Room for Reflection: For high-stakes decisions, give yourself time to step back and think. A clear mind often leads to clearer decisions. Calculated decisions are better than rushed ones, especially when there is a lot at stake.
5. Trust, Adjust, and Move Forward
No decision is perfect, and no one gets it right 100% of the time. What matters is learning from your choices and adjusting as you go.
- Evaluate Outcomes: After each major decision, review the results. What worked? What didn’t? What would you do differently?
- Stay Adaptable: As new data becomes available or circumstances change, be willing to pivot. This balance between decisiveness and flexibility is what defines great leadership.
- Release Perfectionism: Every decision moves you closer to clarity, even if it doesn’t lead to the exact result you expected.
Why This Matters
As a visionary CEO, your ability to balance intuition and data is what sets you apart. Lean too heavily on one, and you risk missing critical insights or opportunities. But when you integrate both, you’ll make decisions with greater confidence, speed, and alignment.
This week, look at an upcoming decision and ask yourself:
- What does the data say?
- What does my intuition say?
- How can I test this decision on a small scale before fully committing?
Mastering this balance is how you scale with both confidence and clarity.
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