As a performance coach to the top minds in music, sports, and business, Amanda Blanck’s passion for developing elite decision-making skills was on full display at TCS Live 2024 in Ann Arbour, Michigan. 

The number one indicator of success in hockey is decision-making. For Blanck, winning on the ice occurs because of winning off the ice. This is very true when it comes to being prepared to make smart decisions. Decision-making comes down to values and energy while in motion. Values are your belief system and energy is the combustion of matter to enable movement. Energy is the thought and care that we choose to give to something we are passionate about. Ultimately, energy is focused in the areas where we have the strongest values, and that’s how we make decisions. Blanck stressed that every decision falls into how you value people, tasks, and strategic abilities. As a coach and leader it is vital to be a catalyst for energy and get everyone to focus on putting their energy towards the right values. Blanck encourages all coaches to strive for strength and balance between people, tasks, and strategic abilities to be a strong decision maker. 

There are four main fears of leadership.

• Threat
• Failure
• Self Worth
• Exclusion

How do these fears disrupt our ability to make decisions? For Blanck, these fears need to be addressed head on if we want to make effective decisions inside our world.

When facing a decision, Blanck invented the Power Five method. 

Purpose: focuses on who you are serving along with what you are trying to accomplish in the end with your decision

Practice: the mind likes repetition and comfort - thinking about how the decision is going to impact your practice and someone else's practice is important. 

Prioritization: make the choice that is going to result in the highest ROI. 

Performing: get in the game and rise to the occasion

Praise the process: no one has it all figured it out but we can work to build a culture of learning and leadership

Being a strong and effective decision maker is one of the most valuable skills a coach can have and taking the time to think out a decision using the Power Five is one of the most effective ways to make a decision that benefits you and those around you.

Noteworthy Timestamps:

• 1:15 #1 indicator of success
• 2:35 Set the stage
• 4:55 Decision making 101
• 7:40 3 layers to decision making
• 11:10 Enabler/derailers
• 13:00 Decision making base camp
• 16:05 The four fears
• 18:55 The four remedies
• 21:55 Catalysts - 5 power punch