The Decision Line: Where AI Ends and Human Judgment Begins

EPISODE 70 with guest heather mallette

Human Judgment in an AI-Driven Workplace

AI can give leaders more information, recommendations, and answers than ever before. But having better answers does not automatically mean we are making better decisions. In this episode of The BOLT Podcast, Todd Bertsch sits down with Heather Mallette, SHRM-CP, Founder and CEO of The Decision Line®, to explore why human judgment becomes even more important as artificial intelligence becomes more capable.

Drawing from more than 20 years in HR and business leadership, Heather shares how leaders can use AI without outsourcing critical thinking, why pressure can narrow our judgment, and how curiosity creates space between what we think we know and what might actually be true. Todd and Heather also explore career growth, recognizing when you have outgrown an old definition of success, taking action before you feel completely ready, and the opportunity HR leaders have to develop better human decision-making in the age of AI.

Watch the Full Episode

Watch Todd’s full conversation with Heather Mallette about AI, human judgment, curiosity, leadership, and making better decisions under pressure.

Listen to the Podcast Episode

Listen to the full episode to learn how leaders can use AI as a tool while continuing to strengthen critical thinking, curiosity, accountability, and human judgment.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why having more information does not automatically lead to better decisions
• Where AI should inform a decision and where human judgment needs to take over
• How leaders can use AI to pressure-test ideas without outsourcing their thinking
• Why AI cannot solve broken organizational systems, processes, or accountability
• How pressure narrows judgment and causes leaders to mistake partial information for the whole truth
• Why pausing before reacting can improve leadership decisions
• How curiosity helps leaders challenge assumptions and uncover missing perspectives
• Why personal growth sometimes requires redefining what success means
• How taking small actions can create clarity when the path forward is uncertain
• How HR can prepare leaders and employees to exercise better judgment in the age of AI

Key Quotes from This Episode

“AI can give us the Decision Line faster. It cannot cross it for us.” — Heather Mallette

“Curiosity creates space between what I think I know and what might actually be true.” — Heather Mallette

“Curiosity is a discipline of challenging your certainty before reality does it for you.” — Heather Mallette

“Sometimes the signal isn’t that you’re failing, it’s that you’ve outgrown the definition of what your success is.” — Heather Mallette

“You don’t always think your way into clarity. Sometimes you act your way into it.” — Heather Mallette

Episode Timestamps

• 01:37 – Where information ends and human judgment begins
• 03:17 – Using AI without outsourcing critical thinking
• 05:04 – Why AI cannot fix broken systems
• 08:47 – Starting small with AI adoption
• 10:23 – How pressure narrows leadership judgment
• 14:22 – Why pausing leads to better decisions
• 18:25 – Using curiosity to challenge assumptions
• 24:01 – Recognizing when you have outgrown your definition of success
• 29:02 – Taking action before you feel completely ready
• 36:21 – How HR can prepare people for AI

How to Make Better Decisions With AI

AI can gather information, generate recommendations, identify patterns, and help leaders pressure-test ideas, but it cannot replace the context and accountability required for sound leadership decisions. Heather describes The Decision Line® as the point where information is no longer enough and someone has to interpret the situation, make the call, and own the consequences. The goal is not to avoid AI, but to use it as a tool while continuing to question its answers and apply human judgment.

One practical approach is to slow down before accepting an answer. Ask: What am I assuming? What evidence would change my mind? Whose perspective am I missing? These questions help leaders use AI to expand their thinking instead of allowing it to do their thinking for them.

Why Curiosity and Pausing Improve Leadership Judgment

Pressure creates urgency, and urgency can narrow perspective. Leaders may see one part of a problem and begin treating it as the whole truth. Todd and Heather discuss why one of the most valuable leadership practices is also one of the simplest: pause.

Pausing does not mean being indecisive. It creates enough space to get curious, question assumptions, consider other perspectives, and determine what might be missing. Curiosity allows leaders to move beyond certainty and make decisions based on a broader view of the situation, especially when stakes are high and there is no obvious right answer.

Resources and Books Mentioned

The following books, tools, and resources were mentioned or referenced throughout this episode.

• Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine
• The SPARK Framework

Frequently Asked Questions

Can AI replace human judgment in leadership decisions?

AI can provide information, recommendations, scenarios, and insights, but leaders still need to interpret context, consider consequences, and make the final decision. AI can help leaders reach the point of decision faster, but accountability and judgment remain human responsibilities.

How can leaders make better decisions under pressure?

One of the most effective practices discussed in this episode is creating a deliberate pause before reacting. Leaders can use that space to ask what they may be missing, identify assumptions they are treating as facts, consider other perspectives, and think through the consequences of being wrong.

How can leaders use AI without losing critical thinking?

Instead of treating AI as the final authority, leaders can use it to pressure-test their thinking. Ask AI for alternative perspectives, challenge its recommendations, examine assumptions, and compare its response against real-world context. The leader remains responsible for deciding what information is relevant and what action to take.

What role should HR play in AI adoption?

HR has an opportunity to help organizations prepare people to work effectively alongside AI. That includes developing curiosity, context, courage, accountability, and better judgment. Rather than simply protecting employees from technological change, HR can help employees and leaders strengthen the human capabilities that become more valuable as technology advances.

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