Sundar Pichai lives by a simple yet powerful leadership principle: make quick decisions, because most of them aren’t permanent. He picked up this habit during his grad school days, and it’s something he continues to rely on—especially when the pressure’s high.

Instead of getting bogged down by endless debates or trying to please every viewpoint, Pichai believes in taking action. When teams present conflicting opinions, he moves forward decisively. Why? Because making a decision—any decision—is better than being stuck in uncertainty. It keeps momentum going and helps teams stay focused.

He also reminds us that what feels like a big, risky move in the moment often doesn’t seem as critical in hindsight. For Pichai, mistakes aren’t failures— instead having a growth mindset and by learning from them, one can become better.