Preventing Disastrous Decisions – Problem Solving in times of Stress

Strengthen your judgement and leadership when it matters most.
This immersive 5-day training course equips operational leaders, supervisors, and decision-makers with the advanced tools and confidence to make effective decisions under pressure. Focusing on real-world crises—especially within high-risk environments such as the petrochemical industry—this course combines theory, self-assessment, structured decision models, and compelling case studies to foster resilience, critical thinking, and high-stakes problem solving. Delegates will emerge better prepared to lead through uncertainty, avoid groupthink, and manage crisis communication with clarity and purpose.

Why this course is important

In high-consequence sectors, one wrong decision can lead to devastating outcomes—from environmental disasters and asset loss to reputational damage and even fatalities. Under pressure, biases can distort judgement, and stress can undermine even experienced leaders. This course addresses these risks directly, offering practical strategies and psychological insights that empower professionals to navigate complexity, assess risk clearly, and execute decisions that protect lives, assets, and operations.

Who should attend

This course is ideal for professionals responsible for making or influencing critical decisions in operational or high-risk environments, including:

• Operational Leaders and Site Managers

• Shift Leaders and Emergency Response Coordinators

• Risk Managers and HSSE Professionals

• Team Leaders and Supervisors

• Specialists engaged in high-impact decision-making

What you will learn

Over five dynamic days, participants will:

• Strengthen decision-making and problem-solving skills in emergency and crisis contexts

• Learn to distinguish between a problem’s root cause, symptoms, and surface-level issues

• Understand their personal decision-making style through MBTI® psychological profiling

• Identify cognitive biases and overcome the dangers of groupthink

• Apply structured problem-solving models and 9 techniques for crisis decision-making

• Use emotional intelligence and communication skills to enhance leadership under pressure

• Analyse historical petrochemical disasters and draw lessons from real-world case studies

• Reflect on their personal strengths and limitations to become more effective decision-makers

What participants say

Ahmed, Operations Supervisor – Energy Sector
 (5/5)
“This course was absolutely transformative. The trainer was incredibly engaging and brought every case study to life. I especially appreciated the focus on stress responses and groupthink—two areas I hadn’t fully considered before. I feel far more confident in my decision-making now.”

Grace, Risk Manager – Manufacturing Industry
 (5/5)
“The instructor’s passion and experience were outstanding. Learning to separate causes from symptoms and use structure changed the way I approach problems. The exercises were eye-opening, and I’ve already started applying them in my work.”

Samuel, Emergency Planning Lead – Oil & Gas
 (5/5)
“Excellent delivery and deeply relevant content. The personal assessments and simulation exercises gave me new insight into my leadership style. I left this course with not just tools, but the confidence to make better decisions when everything’s on the line.”