The Secret to Making Better Leadership Decisions with Harry Max

Join us for a discussion about aligning your priorities with your vision, so everyone knows what they need to focus on each day. Harry Max is the author of Managing Priorities: How to Create Better Plans and Make Smarter Decisions. One of my favorite parts of this interview is the story that Harry shares when he went way over budget on a new microphone and how his boss handles it. You can get the Magnetic Systems Guide (and other business system guides) to find issues before they become expensive problems. Highlights from the interview: 1. Priorities and Vision Leadership success starts with focusing on what matters most. True priorities stem from having a clear vision and leveraging systems to revisit and refine those priorities regularly. Harry shared how a near-death bicycle accident at age 15 taught him that control is an illusion, sparking a lifelong commitment to identifying and focusing on what truly matters. This lesson reemerged in his executive leadership roles, where he learned that consistent review and alignment with vision are critical for effective prioritization. 2. The Balancing Act of Decision-Making Decision-making as a leader requires a delicate balance of confidence and humility. Leaders must portray confidence when they are at least 51% certain but stay humble enough to adjust as new information emerges. Harry highlighted the value of using tools like confidence intervals to improve precision, noting that with practice, leaders can act decisively when 90% confident. Calibrating confidence over time helps leaders make better decisions while maintaining the humility to admit when they’re wrong and adapt accordingly. 3. Understanding Others’ Priorities Success as a leader also hinges on understanding and aligning with the priorities of others—whether employees, colleagues, or stakeholders. Building strong relationships requires curiosity about what drives others’ decisions and goals. By asking questions, showing empathy, and aligning your goals to support theirs, you create trust and foster collaboration. This approach not only strengthens relationships but also helps secure buy-in for your priorities. 4. Building Leadership Strength Finally, effective communication and feedback are critical components of strong leadership. Harry emphasized the importance of paying attention to subtle cues like body language and tone to identify incongruities between verbal and non-verbal communication. Addressing these signals allows leaders to test their understanding and refine their approach. Over time, prioritizing relationship quality over immediate tasks builds long-term leadership strength and resilience, creating a foundation for sustainable success. To dive deeper, listeners can visit Harry at harrymax.com, connect with him on LinkedIn, and check out his book Managing Priorities on Amazon. Harry also invites feedback on his upcoming chapter on execution, encouraging collaboration to refine and promote these impactful ideas.