Ep. 89 - Beyond the Standard: The 60/30/10 Rule for Better Decisions

In this episode, Felicity Furey and Renee Wootton Tomlin tackle a tension every engineer and emerging leader faces: when do you stick to the standard… and when do you use your judgement?

In highly regulated, risk-aware industries, standards exist for a reason. They protect safety, quality and reputation. But real leadership begins when the standard doesn’t quite fit the situation in front of you. When time is limited. When stakeholders disagree. When the data is incomplete.

Felicity shares her practical 60/30/10 decision-making rule from her book the Future of Engineering (out 18 March 2026), 60% data, 30% consultation, 10% professional judgement, and explains why waiting for 100% certainty can stall progress and erode confidence. Renee reflects on moments in her own career where she had to decide whether to escalate, comply, challenge or adapt and how backing her judgement (after doing the work) changed her trajectory.

This episode is a must-listen for technical professionals who want to move from “good engineer” to trusted leader.

Takeaways:

1. Why hiding behind the standard can limit your leadership growth
2. How to apply the 60/30/10 rule in real workplace decisions
3. The trap engineers fall into when chasing 100% certainty
4. How consultation strengthens, not weakens, your authority
5. When to escalate, when to comply, and when to trust your judgement

If you’ve ever second-guessed a decision or waited too long for perfect data, this conversation will give you a practical framework, and the confidence, to decide and move forward.