Judgment: the strengths advantage
Judgment is the ability to weigh evidence, consider multiple perspectives, and make sound decisions
For product and transformation leaders, it’s the strength that turns complexity into clarity
At the senior Head of, Director, General Manager, and C-Suite levels, judgment shows up differently depending on how it’s applied or not applied
Examples of underuse. A Head of Product who underuses judgment may rush decisions based on gut feel, ignoring data from customer research or delivery metrics. This can lead to features that miss the mark. A Chief Transformation Officer who avoids tough trade-offs might approve every initiative, spreading their teams too thin and diluting their impact
Examples of optimal use. A General Manager in Transformation who has balanced and objective judgment can evaluate competing priorities (like whether to invest in AI or expand into new markets) by weighing up evidence, stakeholder input, and long-term strategy. A Chief Product Officer who demonstrates sound judgment might pause a high-profile transformation program to reset governance and their operating model so that their people and capabilities are optimally aligned to the delivery of measurable outcomes. These leaders inspire confidence because their decisions are both thoughtful and decisive
Examples of overuse. Judgment taken too far can stall progress. A Head of Transformation who insists on exhaustive data collection and analysis before every decision is made risks slowing delivery down to a crawl. A CEO who dismisses ideas too quickly may appear cynical, discouraging of new innovations, and silencing diverse perspectives in favour of doing things “their way” because of what has worked or not worked for them in the past
The sweet spot in judgment is about being analytical without being rigid, decisive without being reckless. Leaders who master this balance create clarity in uncertainty and accelerate their products and transformations with confidence
Research shows that leaders who know, apply, and maximise their strengths experience higher resilience, stronger influence, and improved performance outcomes. Judgment is just one of the 24 strengths that we explore in The Strengths Advantage
The Strengths Advantage
Book the half-day team workshop to understand and align on decision making approaches, or choose the 90-minute 1:1 leader session to sharpen your own strategic lens before the break and reset for the new year!