Make and inspire reliably wise decisions
HSDM™ is for forward-thinking leadership teams committed to optimizing their decision-making. This program will give you and your team a reliable framework that can be deployed across your entire organization to measure, manage, and optimize the quality of your most important decisions.
Decision-Making has entered a new era
Decision Contamination
Emerging research reveals that human judgment (especially in groups) is vulnerable to hidden contaminants introduced by variations in our mental processes (VOMPs). These distortions quietly erode decision quality.
The only reliable way to mitigate them is through a structured decision process grounded in decision hygiene.
Uncertain AI Horizon
When it comes to making strategic decisions, we don’t entirely know what AI will be able to do in two years, let alone ten or thirty.
But we do know this: whatever is left to humans will demand that we maximize the potential of our human minds.
Measurement Gap
Outcomes are visible. The decisions behind them often aren’t.
That makes it hard to know if a decision was wise, or just lucky.
Without an objective way to measure decision quality, smart choices with poor results get dismissed. Bad decisions with lucky outcomes get repeated.
And the gap between decision and outcome quality remains—unseen and unaddressed.
High Stakes Decision Making Framework
5-Steps
Commit to Good Thinking
Establish a foundation of examined thinking that prioritizes accuracy.
Guardrail Your Decision
Before generating options, clarify what's at stake, establish guardrails, and pause premature debate, so early bias doesn't derail the process.
Filter Your Inputs
Combine structured due diligence with cognitive trap-spotting to ensure every option is vetted wisely before it's judged.
Sanitize the Process
Use a structured process to analyze options in a way that reduces unwanted variability (noise) and statistical bias while optimizing group dynamics for accurate judgments.
Make the Decision
Move from assessing to advocating by conducting premortems, optimizing internal and external conditions, culling the options list, and making the decision according to pre-established guardrails. Conclude with a Decision Hygiene Score to reflect on the process and improve future decisions.
Ready to make decision quality your competitive advantage?
Who teaches HSDM?
Becki Saltzman
Becki Saltzman is the architect behind some of the most widely adopted training tools for critical thinking, applied curiosity, and decision quality. With a background in applied behavioral science and a track record of developing high-impact learning content she has helped organizations globally employ critical thinking frameworks and move beyond treating curiosity as an innate trait, and instead, use it as a practical tool for insight, innovation, and influence.
Becki’s critical thinking training methodology has been tested and refined with over 3 million learners across industries, roles, and geographies. At Applied Curiosity Lab, she heads content design and facilitator training, building systems that help organizations think clearly under pressure and make decisions that stand up to scrutiny.
Barkley Saltzman
Barkley Salzman has led the transformation of decision hygiene into a practical system for decision intelligence. As Director of Decision Intelligence & Client Engagement at Applied Curiosity Lab, he specializes in turning human messiness – biases, blind spots, assumptions – into measurable, improvable decision systems.
With a background in behavioral science and international conflict resolution, Barkley doesn’t just help people think better, he helps organizations codify and scale that thinking. From high-stakes boardrooms to conflict zones, he's made it his mission to bridge human insight with structural clarity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is HSDM?
HSDM is a 12-week online cohort coaching and training program designed to help leaders and their teams master the HSDM Framework in order to make the wisest decisions.
Each cohort member will receive weekly video and audio lessons, live coaching sessions, and access to their own HSDM workbook.
By the end of the program, you and your team will be prepared to confidently and wisely tackle, track, and score your most challenging high stakes decisions.
Is HSDM for me?
Yes, if you're a leader or an emerging leader because making decisions is likely your hardest, riskiest, and most important job.
Yes, if you want to understand, implement, and inspire others with the proven (behavioral and decision science-based) tools, techniques, and processes for making hygienic high stakes decisions.
How prepared are you to make high stakes decisions? Take the free assessment and find out!
Can I take HSDM with my team?
Yes. Contact us here to book an HSDM cohort specifically for your team. Cohorts range from 3-9 individuals. Each cohort member will receive actionable weekly video and audio lessons, nine live group coaching sessions, and access to their own HSDM workbook. Organizations benefit from the collective learning of a cohort of leaders who will be ready to implement and deploy a reliable decision-making framework across the entire organization.
Can I take HSDM if I don't have a team?
Yes. Join the waitlist to be notified when the next cohorts open. During your intake process, we will learn about you and your goals, and strategically place you in an appropriate cohort with other high achievers.
How much time do I need to commit?
Plan to spend 1-2 hours each week on lessons and workbook exercises. There are three 90-minute coaching sessions each month. The good news is that you'll likely get this time back many times over.
How much does the 12-week program cost?
Contact us for pricing and availability.
What if I have questions about bringing HSDM to my organization?
We'd love to talk and answer any of your questions about HSDM. Just contact us here, let us know what you're curious about, and we'll set up a time to chat.
In the meantime, feel free join the waitlist to be notified when new HSDM cohorts open.