Navigating Decision-Making: A Practical Checklist

Making decisions can often feel overwhelming. I’ve certainly been there—standing at a crossroads, burdened by the weight of uncertainty and the fear of making the wrong choice. To help myself—and hopefully you—I’ve created a structured decision-making checklist that serves as a guide through those tricky situations we all face.

Step 1: Situation Summary #

Begin by summarising the situation you’re dealing with in one or two sentences. This helps clarify your thoughts and provides context for the decision ahead.

Step 2: Checklist Questions #

Awareness of Uncertainty #

1. Identify Assumptions: What assumptions am I making about this situation? Are they based on facts or feelings?
2. Confidence Level: How confident am I in my assumptions? What evidence do I have to support them?

Consideration of Extreme Outcomes #

3. Worst-Case Scenarios: What are the potential worst-case outcomes, and how would they impact my goals or team?
4. High-Impact Events: Are there rare but impactful events that I may be overlooking? How can I prepare for them?

Bias Reflection #

5. Identify Personal Biases: What personal biases might be influencing my perspective? Am I overly reliant on past experiences?
6. Challenge Assumptions: How can I validate my assumptions? Who can provide a different perspective?

Decision Framework #

7. Range of Outcomes: Have I considered both positive and negative outcomes? What are their potential impacts?
8. Risk Mitigation Strategies: What strategies can I implement to mitigate risks associated with less likely but high-impact outcomes?

Feedback and Reflection #

9. Review Past Decisions: How can I create a process to review past decisions and their outcomes? What lessons can I learn?
10. Involve Others: Who can I consult for additional perspectives? How can I encourage open dialogue to challenge my views?

Balance and Perspective #

11. Check for Overgeneralisation: Am I stacking similar past events too broadly? How can I ensure each situation is evaluated on its own merits?
12. Encourage Flexibility: Am I allowing room for uncertainty and different viewpoints? How can I stay open to new information?

Implementing the Checklist #

To truly benefit from this checklist, I recommend using it regularly, especially when you’re faced with important decisions. Set aside some quiet time for reflection, perhaps with a cup of coffee or during a peaceful moment in your day. Sharing the checklist with a trusted colleague or friend can also provide fresh perspectives, making the process feel less isolating.

The Role of Bias in Decision-Making #

Bias is something we all grapple with. I know I do. Sometimes, I find myself leaning too heavily on past experiences, which can warp my perception of new situations. It’s all too easy to “stack” similar events in our minds, leading us to conclusions that may not apply. For instance, if I faced a setback with one approach, I might instinctively reject similar strategies without considering the unique factors at play this time around.

Recognising these biases is crucial. By questioning my assumptions and actively seeking out diverse viewpoints, I can broaden my understanding of the situation. This practice not only helps mitigate bias but also fosters a culture of openness and flexibility in my decision-making.

Step 3: Compile Responses #

Once you've answered each question, take a moment to summarise your insights into a report. This can include:

• Situation Summary
• Identified Assumptions
• Confidence Levels
• Worst-Case Scenarios
• High-Impact Events
• Personal Biases
• Range of Outcomes
• Risk Mitigation Strategies
• Review of Past Decisions
• Consulted Perspectives
• Checks for Overgeneralisation
• Flexibility Considerations

Conclusion #

Using this decision-making checklist regularly can help you maintain balance, mitigate biases, and ensure a thoughtful evaluation of each situation. By following this structured approach, I’ve found that I can make more informed and confident decisions, all while remaining open to new insights and perspectives. It’s a journey we’re all on, and I hope this checklist serves you as well as it has served me.

Download the Checklist #

Download a PDF copy of the checklist -> Decision Making Checklist

Use the following prompt with your favorite AI chat service to guide you through the decision-making checklist. Click the button below to copy it to your clipboard:

Copy Checklist Prompt

This is a completely new decision-making request. Ignore all prior conversation context or any information shared before this point. Follow these instructions precisely. I will help you through the Decision Making Checklist by asking a series of questions. Let's begin with a brief summary of the situation you are facing (1-2 sentences): After I receive your summary, I will ask you the following questions one at a time. After you answer each question, I will respond with the next question until all have been asked. 1. Identify Assumptions: What assumptions am I making about this situation? Are they based on facts or feelings? 2. Confidence Level: How confident am I in my assumptions? What evidence do I have to support them? 3. Worst-Case Scenarios: What are the potential worst-case outcomes, and how would they impact my goals or team? 4. High-Impact Events: Are there rare but impactful events that I may be overlooking? How can I prepare for them? 5. Identify Personal Biases: What personal biases might be influencing my perspective? Am I overly reliant on past experiences? 6. Challenge Assumptions: How can I validate my assumptions? Who can provide a different perspective? 7. Range of Outcomes: Have I considered both positive and negative outcomes? What are their potential impacts? 8. Risk Mitigation Strategies: What strategies can I implement to mitigate risks associated with less likely but high-impact outcomes? 9. Review Past Decisions: How can I create a process to review past decisions and their outcomes? What lessons can I learn? 10. Involve Others: Who can I consult for additional perspectives? How can I encourage open dialogue to challenge my views? 11. Check for Overgeneralisation: Am I stacking similar past events too broadly? How can I ensure each situation is evaluated on its own merits? 12. Encourage Flexibility: Am I allowing room for uncertainty and different viewpoints? How can I stay open to new information? Once all questions have been answered, please summarise my insights into a report that includes: - Situation Summary - Identified Assumptions - Confidence Levels - Worst-Case Scenarios - High-Impact Events - Personal Biases - Range of Outcomes - Risk Mitigation Strategies - Review of Past Decisions - Consulted Perspectives - Checks for Overgeneralisation - Flexibility Considerations Additionally, please: - Identify any critical areas or considerations I may have overlooked. - Suggest alternative strategies or approaches I should consider. - Provide a SWOT analysis based on my responses. - Generate ideas for actionable steps based on my responses to the questions.