Techniques For Evaluating Alternatives In Decisions

Bad decisions aren't usually about intelligence or experience⁣. ⁣ They're about making choices without a clear process⁣. ⁣ The best leaders don't have perfect judgment. ⁣ They have reliable systems that guide them toward better choices consistently⁣. ⁣ Here are 8 frameworks that turn decision-making from guesswork into strategy:⁣ ⁣ 1: The Reverse Advocate Protocol⁣ ↳ Assign someone to argue against your choice before finalizing any major decision.⁣ ↳ Challenging your own bias reveals blind spots and strengthens your final choice.⁣ ⁣ 2: The Energy Drain Audit⁣ ↳ Evaluate how much mental and emotional energy each option will require ongoing.⁣ ↳ High maintenance decisions often fail because they exhaust you before creating results.⁣ ⁣ 3: The Up/Down Impact Chain⁣ ↳ Trace how your decision will influence decisions that come before and after it.⁣ ↳ Single decisions create cascading effects that multiply their importance beyond immediate outcomes.⁣ ⁣ 4: The Constraint Liberation Test⁣ ↳ What would become possible if this decision removes your biggest current obstacle.⁣ ↳ The best decisions don't just solve problems they unlock entirely new opportunities.⁣ ⁣ 5: The Identity Alignment Filter⁣ ↳ Consider which option moves you closer to who you want to become as a leader.⁣ ↳ Decisions shape identity over time, and identity shapes all future decisions.⁣ ⁣ 6: The Network Effect Multiplier⁣ ↳ Evaluate how each choice affects your access to people, information, and opportunities.⁣ ↳ Great decisions don't just create direct value, they position you for better future decisions.⁣ ⁣ 7: The Teaching Test Framework⁣ ↳ Ask which decision you'd be most comfortable explaining and defending to your team.⁣ ↳ Choices you can't teach or justify usually indicate unclear thinking or misaligned values.⁣ ⁣ 8: The Pattern Break Analysis⁣ ↳ Identify whether this decision continues existing patterns or creates new ones.⁣ ↳ Sometimes the best choice is the one that breaks you out of cycles that aren't serving you.⁣ ⁣ What's one framework you use?⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣ 💚 Follow Hetali Mehta, MPH for more.⁣⁣⁣⁣ 📌 Share this with your network.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 👇Subscribe to my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eFPeE4gQ

A man with a watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure. ~ Segal’s Law More data doesn’t mean better decisions. In fact, it often leads to paralysis, over-analysis, and slower execution. So ... how do you filter out the signal from the noise? While AI cannot replace your instincts and judgment, nor make a high-stakes leadership call on your behalf, it can be a valuable thought partner in decision-making. Here are AI prompts to challenge your own thinking: CLARIFY THE CONTEXT 💭 What is the core problem we’re solving, and how has it evolved over time? 💭 What data or evidence suggests this is the right priority right now? 💭 What are the second- and third-order consequences of this decision? 💭 What does success look like in 12 months? What about failure? 💭 If we had to explain this decision in one sentence, what would it be? MODEL SCENARIOS 💭 What are the best-case, worst-case, and most likely scenarios if we move forward? 💭 How would this decision play out in different competitive conditions? 💭 What factors would make this decision a game-changer or a massive failure? 💭 What are the opportunity costs of choosing this path over others? 💭 If we succeed beyond expectations, what new risks or constraints will emerge? STRESS TEST ASSUMPTIONS 💭 What assumptions are we making that could be flawed or outdated? 💭 What evidence would immediately prove this decision wrong? 💭 What are the hidden risks or unintended consequences we aren’t considering? 💭 Are we making this decision based on past success, or future relevance? 💭 What is the hidden downside of being right? PRIORITIZE SPEED 💭 What is the ONE critical insight that makes this decision 80% clear right now? 💭 If we had to make this decision within 24 hours, what would we prioritize? 💭 Are we optimizing for certainty, or are we delaying out of fear? 💭 If we delay this decision by 6 months, what are the risks and missed opportunities? 💭 What’s the smallest action we can take to test this decision before fully committing? BUILD FEEDBACK LOOPS 💭 What are the top 3 leading indicators that will signal whether this decision is working? 💭 What biases might cause us to ignore early warning signs of failure? 💭 If this decision needs to be reversed, what’s the fastest and least costly way to do it? 💭 How will we ensure that feedback is acted upon, not just collected? 💭 What questions should we be asking 6 months from now to reassess this decision? #leadership #AI #innovation

And by “with a twist,” I don’t mean adding a slice of lemon. 🍋⁠ ⁠ Let’s start first by what makes Pro-Con Lists wrong ❌:⁠ ⁠ It uses judgment-centric language and forces binary thinking. Factors surrounding your decision could only be good or bad, no in-between.⁠ ⁠ For most people, when a factor can’t be categorized as either “good” or “bad” then it’s left off.⁠ ⁠ Plus, it tricks the brain into thinking that a longer “Pro” list must make a decision the right one, while a longer “Con” column makes it bad. But that’s not true, because some factors matter more than others. ⚖️⁠ ⁠ It could just be one “Con” in a short list of “Cons” but what if it goes against everything you value?⁠ ⁠ Doesn’t sound so trivial now, right?⁠ ⁠ Solution: ⁠ Attractive-Concerning Table aka Pro-Con List With a Twist ✅⁠ ⁠ Instead of listing the Pros and Cons, determine what makes each option “Attractive” and what makes it “Concerning.” This reveals what truly matters to you, instead of forcing factors to be categorized as either positive or negative.⁠ ⁠ It's a more sophisticated and thoughtful decision-making tool that moves beyond the limitations of a traditional Pro-Con list, promoting a more holistic and value-driven approach to decision-making.⁠ ⁠ It will make you think, "what are your fundamental objectives?"⁠ ⁠ Then you can have a clearer perspective on what option truly serves your values and objectives. 🔍⁠ ⁠ #decisionmaking #decisionengineering #productivity