Our Mission
In Sport
In Business
Effective Decision Making is a crucial aspect in any sporting environment. It can make the difference between winning and losing, and impact the overall performance of a team or an individual athlete. Making quick and effective decisions under pressure is a skill that can be developed through practice and experience, and is essential for success in sports.
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At DecisionCraft we have a wealth of experience in making critical decisions often in life or death situations. Thankfully, decisions in the sporting environment rarely have such high stakes attached to them, but the principles remain the same. What makes a good (or bad) decision and how can you improve your performance in such a critical area.
Most sportsmen and women that we speak to have spent a lifetime training and practising the technical skills for their required sport but have never had any training in how to approach decision making.
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Our mission is to change that and make what a sportsperson thinks and the decisions they make as important as what they do on the field of play.
In the business environment, the power of effective decision making can help deliver improved performance at all levels of organisations no matter what their size. Many businesses strive to delegate the ability for staff to make decisions in the best interest of customers and clients but often don't have a plan of how those delegated powers should be used.
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This type of approach can result in vast differences between the decisions and scope that staff are willing or able to take and result in a variable customer experience.
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If your business is looking to improve the way in which it's staff make decisions that are critical to maintain a competitive edge, adapt to change and enhance financial health then it is vitally important that they are given a framework, structure and direction in which they can operate.
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In any other area of business, organisations ensure that staff are well trained and have access to relevant advice and guidance to support them in their role.
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Why should decision making be any different?
Our team
Stuart Blaik
Co-Founder
Stuart has a rich background in football, having competed in senior non-league since 1987 until his retirement at age 38. Transitioning into coaching, Stuart earned his FA Coaching qualification and made significant strides in management, notably with Brackley Town's junior teams and as Assistant Manager at Thame United's 1st team. His tenure saw promotion to Step 4 and the first Oxfordshire Senior Cup victory in over two decades.
In addition to his passion for football, Stuart enjoyed a distinguished career in policing, culminating in a senior management role until his retirement in 2023. With over 3 decades of service, he specialised in the Firearms Command as an Operational Firearms Commander and Instructor, where his decisions often carried life-or-death implications. In his final seven years, Stuart led high-profile investigations into homicide, kidnapping, extortion, and other serious crimes.
Stuart's dual careers have rigorously tested his decision-making abilities, which he now applies across various sports and industries. He brings a wealth of practical experience to his sessions, delivering insightful and thought-provoking approaches to decision-making on and off the sports field.
skills
Stuart brings a lifetime of practical decision making experience and delivers fascinating, thought provoking sessions designed to improve the way that you approach decision making on the sports field.
Qualifications
Certifications:
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Accredited Senior Investigating Officer
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FA Licensed Coach
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Level 3 Award in Education and Training
Additional Note:
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Known for his defensive prowess as a half-decent centre back!
Matt Bonner
Co-Founder
skills
Having played competetive sport for many years, Matt fully understands the importance of making good decisions and the consequences of making bad ones. He is passionate about the topic and draws upon a professional career as a senior Detective with the Metropolitan Police Service to support his approach.
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Matt led some of the most high profile investigations conducted by the Met Police during his time with the Homicide and Serious Crime Command with direct responsibility for ensuring that complex investigations were conducted in the proper manner and ultimately being accountable for the success of an investigation.
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During this period, Matt had to establish reliable methods for approaching complex decision making often based on incomplete information and started to recognise the importance of developing a systematic approach and the importance of reflecting on past performance.
Having completed his policing career he continues to share his knowledge and experience as a trainer nationally both within policing at the College of Policing and to wider audiences where his experiences and approaches are easily transferred into other professions.
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Matt has a wealth of experience gained during his policing career and uses that to support his delivery around decision making.
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He is able to draw upon real life experience and apply that into the context of the sporting environment to deliver training in a way that is fun, easy to understand and most importantly - effective.
Qualifications
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Accredited Senior Investigating Officer
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Level 4 certificate in Education and Training
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Experienced classroom trainer
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Additional Note:
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Was once a very average Goalkeeper!