# Executive Decisiveness **Executive Decisiveness** refers to the ability of leaders within organizations or states to make timely, high-impact decisions without becoming trapped in bureaucratic inertia or endless procedural deliberations. It contrasts with **[[Institutional Paralysis|decision paralysis]]**, emphasizing _action_, _agency_, and _ownership_ over _procedure_ and _input accumulation_. This concept highlights the importance of selecting high-agency leaders, structuring organizations to empower end-to-end decision-making, and minimizing bureaucratic drag. Models like [[ARIA]] and [[DARPA]] exemplify environments where executive decisiveness thrives: small teams, clear missions, high autonomy, and strong accountability for outcomes rather than compliance. In state capacity discussions, executive decisiveness shifts the focus from simply increasing resources (more staff, higher pay, relaxed rules) toward building lean structures and empowering individuals to act decisively. --- ## Entries **[[2025-04-30]]**: Proposed the idea of _[[Progress Protocols|progress protocols]]_: mechanisms like deadlines, automatic triggers, and accountability for omissions to counter bureaucratic stalling and promote executive action. ^progress-protocols **[[2025-04-28]]**: Read a report by [[Emilie Agnoux]] where she introduces the concept of _Public Agentivité_, reinforcing reflections on the need for greater executive agency within public service. **[[2025-04-07]]**: Reflections sparked by a tweet from [[Samuel Hammond]] contrasting approaches to state capacity, emphasizing the importance of _executive decisiveness_ over bureaucratic resource accumulation.