Leadership is often about making tough decisions. Some choices feel instinctive, while others require deep, strategic thinking. But what if the way we think about decisions—and the processes behind them—is holding us back?
Enter Netflix’s Black Mirror: Bandersnatch—a one-of-a-kind interactive movie where you control the character’s fate by making key decisions throughout the story. It’s more than just entertainment. It’s a powerful metaphor for the challenges leaders face when making decisions under pressure.
Let’s explore what leaders can learn from this movie-game:
In Bandersnatch, some decisions seem small—what cereal to eat or which music to listen to—but they can trigger unexpected outcomes later. Similarly, in business, even minor decisions made without proper consideration can snowball into bigger challenges.
💡 Lesson for leaders: Don’t underestimate the long-term impact of small choices. Whether you’re hiring for a team or signing off on a budget, ask yourself, Have I considered all the downstream effects of this decision?
Throughout the movie, you’re often forced to make decisions on instinct, especially under time pressure. While intuition can be an asset for experienced leaders, relying on it without proper context can lead to unintended results. Studies suggest that intuition works best when backed by prior knowledge and experience (Betsch, 2008).
💡 Lesson for leaders: Trust your instincts—but only when the decision lies within a familiar domain where you have relevant experience. For high-stakes or unfamiliar problems, step back and apply a more deliberate, structured approach.
Bandersnatch makes it clear that no single decision guarantees success. Even when you choose what seems like the “right” path, unforeseen factors can derail you. In leadership, the same holds true—outcomes can be unpredictable, but a solid decision-making process is within your control.
💡 Lesson for leaders: Focus on the quality of the decision process, not just the outcome. Are you gathering the right data, consulting the right people, and balancing short- and long-term impacts? A well-thought-out process builds resilience even when things don’t go as planned.
In Bandersnatch, you’re often racing against the clock to make decisions. This reflects the reality leaders face when responding to crises or deadlines. Research confirms that time pressure can diminish decision quality, even for experienced leaders (Travassos et al., 2013).
💡 Lesson for leaders: When possible, create time buffers to thoroughly evaluate complex decisions. If time isn’t on your side, lean on structured decision-making frameworks or experienced team members who can help you make faster, better-informed choices.
In the movie, you get the chance to revisit and change certain decisions. But in real life, many choices—like hiring decisions, investments, or brand strategies—don’t offer second chances.
💡 Lesson for leaders: Identify which decisions are reversible and which aren’t. For reversible decisions, it’s okay to act quickly and iterate later. But for decisions with long-term impact, make sure you invest the time and effort to get them right the first time.
Leadership, much like Bandersnatch, is about navigating choices with uncertain outcomes. The best leaders are those who balance quick intuition with deliberate strategy and know when to switch between the two.
When making your next tough call, think of yourself as the player in an interactive story:
Leaders who approach decision-making with this mindset will be better equipped to handle challenges—whether on a movie screen or in real life.
What’s your approach to decision-making under pressure?