Inside the Book
Judgement, under pressure
Judgment,
under pressure
What happens when responsibility can’t be shared,
and process can’t hide the call.
What happens when responsibility can’t be shared, and
process can’t hide the call.
Why I wrote this book
When leadership stops being theoretical.
I wrote it after years in roles where decisions couldn’t be pushed up, and process didn’t make them go away.
When trade-offs were real, incentives misaligned, and everyone was waiting for the call.
I value frameworks. I use them. They don’t make the hardest decisions.
I wrote it after years in roles where decisions couldn’t be pushed up, and process didn’t make them go away.
When trade-offs were real, incentives misaligned, and everyone was waiting for the call.
I value frameworks. I use them. They don’t make the hardest decisions.
"The job isn't prioritising features.
It's prioritising consequences."
"The job isn't prioritising features.
It's prioritising consequences."
Chapter 11
20
20
Chapters
25k
25k
Words
0
0
Frameworks
Inside the book
How the argument unfolds.
Part I - Introduction
The introduction reframes the role before advice begins.
It defines judgement, responsibility, and what changes when leadership becomes visible.
Part II - Reality Check
Chapter 02: The Seductive Promise
Chapter 03: Where Playbooks Break
Chapter 04: Not the Center of the Universe
Chapter 05: Winning with What You Have
Part III - Reading the Room
Chapter 06: Watch, Don’t Prescribe
Chapter 07: Speaking Their Language
Chapter 08: Steer, Don’t Script
Part IV - Making it Matter
Chapter 09: Build Leverage, Not Work
Chapter 10: Follow the Money
Chapter 11: The Cost of Yes
Chapter 12: Timing is a Decision
Chapter 13: Projects End, Products Evolve
Part V - Judgement Calls
Chapter 14: Use the Difficulty
Chapter 15: Customers Don't Carry Consequences
Chapter 16: Judgement Before Data
Chapter 17: Stop Pushing
Chapter 18: Marry Your Business
Chapter 19: Carry the Weight
Part VI - Conclusion
Chapter 20: What Remains
Part II - Reality Check
Chapter 02: The Seductive Promise
Chapter 03: Where Playbooks Break
Chapter 04: Not the Center of the Universe
Chapter 05: Winning with What You Have
Part III - Reading the Room
Chapter 06: Watch, Don’t Prescribe
Chapter 07: Speaking Their Language
Chapter 08: Steer, Don’t Script
Part IV - Making it Matter
Chapter 09: Build Leverage, Not Work
Chapter 10: Follow the Money
Chapter 11: The Cost of Yes
Chapter 12: Timing is a Decision
Chapter 13: Projects End, Products Evolve
Part V - Judgement Calls
Chapter 14: Use the Difficulty
Chapter 15: Customers Don't Carry Consequences
Chapter 16: Judgement Before Data
Chapter 17: Stop Pushing
Chapter 18: Marry Your Business
Chapter 19: Carry the Weight
Part VI - Conclusion
Chapter 20: What Remains
Ready to Lead?
Questions you’re probably asking
Questions you’re
probably asking
Before you decide whether this book is for you.
Before you decide whether this book is for you.
Is this book practical, or mostly opinion?
It’s practical where it matters. Every chapter is grounded in real decisions made under pressure, not abstract advice. But if you’re looking for clean answers, this isn’t that kind of practical.
If there are no frameworks, how does this help me?
It helps by changing how you approach decisions, not by telling you what to do. Each chapter breaks down real situations and the reasoning behind the call. You can apply that thinking immediately — without copying a method.
Is this based on real experience or theory?
Yes. It’s grounded in real product leadership experience. Some details have been anonymized or simplified for confidentiality, without changing the substance of the situations or the decisions. What matters here is the judgement exercised, not the names on the org chart.
Will this help me deal with pressure, politics, and trade-offs?
Yes — that’s most of the book. It focuses on the moments where alignment is partial, stakes are high, and decisions still need to be made.
Is this book practical, or mostly opinion?
It’s practical where it matters. Every chapter is grounded in real decisions made under pressure, not abstract advice. But if you’re looking for clean answers, this isn’t that kind of practical.
If there are no frameworks, how does this help me?
It helps by changing how you approach decisions, not by telling you what to do. Each chapter breaks down real situations and the reasoning behind the call. You can apply that thinking immediately — without copying a method.
Is this based on real experience or theory?
Yes. It’s grounded in real product leadership experience. Some details have been anonymized or simplified for confidentiality, without changing the substance of the situations or the decisions. What matters here is the judgement exercised, not the names on the org chart.
Will this help me deal with pressure, politics, and trade-offs?
Yes — that’s most of the book. It focuses on the moments where alignment is partial, stakes are high, and decisions still need to be made.
Is this book practical, or mostly opinion?
It’s practical where it matters. Every chapter is grounded in real decisions made under pressure, not abstract advice. But if you’re looking for clean answers, this isn’t that kind of practical.
If there are no frameworks, how does this help me?
It helps by changing how you approach decisions, not by telling you what to do. Each chapter breaks down real situations and the reasoning behind the call. You can apply that thinking immediately — without copying a method.
Is this based on real experience or theory?
Yes. It’s grounded in real product leadership experience. Some details have been anonymized or simplified for confidentiality, without changing the substance of the situations or the decisions. What matters here is the judgement exercised, not the names on the org chart.
Will this help me deal with pressure, politics, and trade-offs?
Yes — that’s most of the book. It focuses on the moments where alignment is partial, stakes are high, and decisions still need to be made.
"You don’t get to opt out of responsibility."
Chapter 14
@ 2026 François de Bodinat - All rights reserved
@ 2026 François de Bodinat - All rights reserved