Left Brain, Right Stuff: Wisdom, Courage, and the Key to Great Decisions, Rosenzweig Phil

Making winning decisions calls for a combination of skills: clear analysis and calculation -- left brain -- as well as the willingness to push boundaries and take bold action -- right stuff. Of course leaders need to understand the dynamics of competition, to anticipate rival moves, to draw on the power of statistical analysis, and to be aware of common decision errors -- all features of left brain thinking. But to achieve the unprecedented in real-world situations, much more is needed. Leaders also need the right stuff. In business, they have to devise plans and inspire followers for successful execution; in politics, they must mobilize popular support for a chosen program; in the military, commanders need to commit to a battle strategy and lead their troops; and in start-ups, entrepreneurs must manage risk when success is uncertain. In every case, success calls for action as well as analysis, and for courage as well as calculation.