We’ve all seen it happen—a company makes what seems like a smart move, only to watch it backfire spectacularly. Meanwhile, competitors somehow always seem to make the right calls at the right time. What’s their secret?
The truth is, great decision-making isn’t about luck or genius intuition. The most successful companies approach decisions differently—with intention, structure, and a clear connection to their long-term vision.
Take StorJ, the distributed cloud platform that’s challenging tech giants while staying true to its decentralized principles. Katherine Johnson, their Chief Governance Officer, recently shared on the Dynamic Decisions podcast how they’ve built a decision-making culture that works—even across 16 countries and countless time zones.
When you're growing fast in a complex space like decentralized tech, you can't afford to wing it. Every decision—from hiring to product roadmaps—needs to serve both our immediate goals and our larger mission.
This is what separates companies that last from those that flame out. They don’t just make decisions—they govern them.
Most companies fall into the same traps:
We’ve seen it time and again. A startup scales quickly but loses its culture. A legacy company clings to outdated processes while disruptors eat their lunch. The common thread? Decision-making that’s reactive rather than intentional.
The StorJ story reveals a better way. Despite operating in one of tech’s most complex spaces—with regulatory hurdles, cutting-edge technology, and a fully remote team—they’ve maintained remarkable agility.
Here’s what we can learn:
They Anchor Decisions in Purpose
StorJ doesn’t chase trends. Whether evaluating a new feature or entering a market, they ask: Does this align with our core values of decentralization and privacy? This clarity eliminates endless debates—if an opportunity doesn’t fit, it’s an easy no.
They Balance Speed with Rigor
In Katherine’s words:
We move fast, but not recklessly.
Their secret? Clear decision rights. Everyone knows exactly which decisions they own, who needs to be consulted, and when to escalate. No bureaucracy, no ambiguity—just clean execution.
They Treat Decisions as Learning Opportunities
After major moves, StorJ does something radical—they review what worked. Not to assign blame, but to improve. This discipline turns every decision into data for making better ones next time.
They Leverage Their Entire Team’s Wisdom
With team members across 16 countries, StorJ couldn’t rely on hallway conversations. Instead, they built intentional processes to surface diverse perspectives before big calls. The result? Better decisions and stronger buy-in.
This disciplined approach pays dividends. While competitors get bogged down in internal politics or chase shiny objects, companies like StorJ move with purpose. They say no to good opportunities to pursue great ones. They build trust because people understand how and why decisions get made.
As Katherine put it: "When your team trusts the process, you spend less time debating and more time doing what matters."
The best part? This isn’t about being a tech unicorn or having unlimited resources. It’s about being intentional. Start small:
Like any skill, great decision-making takes practice. But get it right, and you’ll find your company moving faster, working smarter, and—most importantly—building something that lasts.
For more insights on building decision-making that scales, check out Katherine Johnson’s full conversation on the Dynamic Decisions podcast—it might just change how you think about your next big call.
Hear our conversation with Katherine Johnson on #TheDynamic DecisionsPodcast: https://spti.fi/katherine_johnson
