Decision Making Under Pressure Training in Thimphu, Bhutan

This course is designed to equip professionals with the tools, frameworks, and mindset required to make effective and timely decisions under high-stakes and high-pressure situations. It blends cognitive psychology, risk assessment, leadership principles, and practical exercises to enhance decision-making capabilities in challenging environments such as crisis, uncertainty, or high workload.

Understanding Pressure and Decision Frameworks

The Psychology of Pressure

• Physiological and cognitive impacts

• Stress and decision paralysis

• Identifying fight-or-flight triggers

Models of Decision-Making

• Rational vs. intuitive decision-making

• Recognition-Primed Decision Model (RPDM)

• OODA loop and DECIDE model

• Time-critical vs. deliberate decision types

Risk and Consequence Management

• Assessing risk under pressure

• Using decision matrices in constrained time

• Managing trade-offs and stakeholder impact

Practicing Decisions Under Pressure

Biases and Mental Shortcuts

• Confirmation, availability, and anchoring bias

• How to mitigate biases under pressure

Communication and Leadership in Crises

• Clear and assertive decision communication

• Managing team dynamics under pressure

Simulation Exercises & Role Play

• Time-boxed scenarios

• Live decision games with feedback

Post-Decision Evaluation

• Lessons learned and after-action review

• Building a personal resilience and reflection toolkit

Final Workshop: Simulated high-pressure group decision-making activity