Overview

In a crisis, decisions need to be made under tight deadlines, even as the facts you’re relying on are messy, incomplete, and evolving by the minute. Stress and fatigue make it all the harder. This short course delves into the human thinking pitfalls that subtly undermine crisis response and provides straightforward, practical solutions to protect against them.

We introduce a bit of theory, but the focus is mainly examples and scenarios to explain the theory and highlight the relevance to crisis response and leadership. The aim here isn’t to perfect execution, but to increase awareness. When you understand the way you think, you can become more adept at recognizing potential pitfalls, challenging assumptions, and making decisions more clearly and thoughtfully.

What you’ll learn

Using a mixture of scenarios, examples and short reflective exercises, the course introduces five cognitive biases that routinely affect decision-making in a crisis:

1. Discounting

Why we tend to favour what’s happening right now and underplay longer‑term consequences — and how this played out in real-world examples such as Covid-19 decision-making.

2. Anchoring

The way in which the first idea or number is introduced in a meeting can have a subtle influence on the group’s thinking, and some tips on how an individual can remain true to their point of view.

3. Framing

The way a question is presented can nudge people towards safer or riskier choices. The course shows how easily teams can be influenced by “gain vs loss” framing — often without noticing.

4. Confirmation Bias

Our natural tendency to search for, notice and trust information that supports what we already believe. We explore why this is so powerful during an incident, and how leaders can create space for challenge.

5. Groupthink

How strong team cohesion can drift into silence, pressure, and unhelpful conformity — leading to very poor decisions. We look at classic case studies and offer practical tools such as appointing a Devil’s Advocate.

Throughout the course, learners are encouraged to reflect, pause, and actively test their own thinking — not just absorb the concepts.

Course format

• Approx. 30 minutes
• Short, engaging lessons packed with examples
• Interactive questions to personalise the learning
• Practical steps that teams can start using immediately
• Designed to support (not overwhelm) busy professionals

The course fits comfortably within wider crisis management training programmes or can be used on its own for team capability building.

Who should take this Decision Making in a Crisis Course?

This course is suitable for anyone involved in emergency response, crisis management, or business continuity.

• Crisis Management team members – professionals handling crisis management, disaster response, and contingency planning.
• Local authorities and government agencies – those responsible for public safety, disaster preparedness, and incident coordination.
• Business continuity and corporate risk professionals – individuals managing crisis communication, regulatory compliance, and operational resilience.
• Volunteers and crisis support personnel – those working in humanitarian aid, disaster relief, or emergency shelters.

This course is best completed following completion of the Introduction to Crisis Management course.

Why RiskReady?

Our training is designed by experienced crisis and resilience practitioners who have worked alongside organisations before, during and after real incidents. Everything in this module is rooted in practice, not theory.

The aim is simple: to help teams make clearer, calmer, more grounded decisions when they need them most.

Takeaways

By the end of the course, learners will be able to:

• Recognise key decision-making traps under pressure
• Understand why cognitive biases occur (and why they matter)
• Use practical techniques to reduce their impact
• Challenge assumptions more confidently in a team setting
• Support better-quality discussions during an incident

FAQ

“Is this Decision Making in a Crisis course certified?”  A certificate is available on completion of the course.

“How long does the decision-making training take?” The course will take around 30 minutes, and includes a practical exercise.

“Do I need any prior experience to enrol in decision-making training?” No, you do not need any prior experience. However, this course is based on the assumption that you will have completed the Introduction to Crisis Management course, and we would recommend that you complete that course first.

“I don't have a payment card. Can I pay for this course via an invoice?”  Yes, of course you can! Just drop us an email and we can send an invoice; you can still complete the course whilst we are waiting for payment!

“Can I take this decision making training on any device?”  Yes, you can do this course on any device, although larger screens may make it easier.

“How is the decision making training delivered online?”  RiskReady hosts a learning environment for this and other courses.  You will have your own account, which will keep a record of your courses.  The course is online, and can be accessed at any time.