6-Step Framework
Step 1: Define
Your answers will help reveal where uncertainty, bias, or lack of structure may be clouding your decision-making process.
This gives us the real-world scenario to evaluate, where the stakes are high and clarity is critical.
2: What factors are influencing that decision the most right now?
Understanding the pressure points, whether it’s time, finances, people, or past patterns, helps clarify what’s driving urgency or hesitation.
3: Who else is involved in the decision-making process and how are they contributing?
This reveals how collaborative or siloed the process is, and whether the right perspectives are actually being considered.
4: How do you currently evaluate options before committing to a major decision?
Some leaders go with their gut, others overanalyze. We need to know if there’s a repeatable framework, or if you’re flying blind.
5: Do you use any frameworks, metrics, or written pros/cons to support decision-making?
Structured thinking leads to smarter choices. We want to see if you’re externalizing the process or carrying it all in your head.
6: What’s your biggest concern or fear when facing this kind of decision?
Every decision comes with risk. Naming your biggest worry helps identify where support or clarity is needed.
7: Have past decisions like this one delivered the results you expected?
This question uncovers whether your current system works, or if past choices reveal a pattern of misalignment or missed expectations.
8: How do you balance speed vs. accuracy when a decision has to be made quickly?
We want to understand your bias, either toward fast action or deep analysis, and whether that’s serving you or holding you back.
9: What kind of outside input, data, or perspective would be most helpful right now?
Identifying the missing lens, whether it’s financial, strategic, or experiential, can immediately improve the quality of your decision.
10: If this decision was already made and working perfectly, what would the result be for your business?
This locks in the vision. If you know what success looks like, you can reverse-engineer the best path to get there.
Step 2: Clarify
Many poor decisions stem from unclear objectives. We focus first on articulating what you’re solving for, and why it is important.
- Reframe the decision into a clear, single-sentence question.
- Identify the specific outcome you want to achieve.
- Separate the “need to decide now” from the “it can wait.”
- Make sure the decision aligns with larger strategic goals.
“We are a [business type] facing a decision about [topic]. Help us reframe this decision clearly, define the core objective, and assess if this is the right time to decide.”
Step 3: Analyze
We identify all viable options, gather relevant data, and use objective scoring to reduce bias and highlight trade-offs.
- List all possible options, even the unconventional ones.
- Identify criteria for evaluation (cost, speed, impact).
- Score each option against those criteria.
- Document risks, dependencies, and assumptions for each.
“We are a [business type] weighing options for [decision]. Help us score each option using defined criteria and highlight risks or gaps we might be missing.”
Step 4: Align
Poor decisions often come from too few or too many voices. This step ensures you involve the right perspectives without creating confusion.
- Identify who must be involved versus who should just be informed.
- Gather input using a structured method (surveys, scoring, 1:1s).
- Resolve conflicting perspectives using data or priority filters.
- Ensure decision-makers are aligned on the evaluation method.
“We are a [business type] making a decision that affects [departments/stakeholders]. Help us gather input, resolve conflicting opinions, and finalize alignment before choosing.”
Step 5: Decide
This is where you finalize your decision using all of the analysis and alignment you’ve built, and prepare to act on them.
- Choose the best option based on evaluation, not emotion.
- Document the “why” behind your decision clearly.
- Define a launch or implementation timeline.
- Assign ownership for next steps and communication.
“We are a [business type] ready to finalize a decision on [topic]. Help us confirm our choice, document the rationale, and structure the first steps of implementation.”
Step 6: Review
Decision-making is a skill. Reviewing outcomes helps sharpen your thinking, reduce future risk, and train your team to make stronger calls.
- Schedule a 30- or 60-day review checkpoint.
- Compare actual outcomes to intended goals.
- Capture lessons learned for future decisions.
- Refine your decision-making system moving forward.
“We are a [business type] that recently made a major decision about [topic]. Help us evaluate the outcome, identify learnings, and improve our decision-making process.”
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