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Deciding
5 min read
How to make a hard decision with less noise
Most hard decisions aren't hard because of the facts. They're hard because of the noise around them. Here is how I help leaders turn it down.
Name the real question
Most decisions arrive wrapped in other people’s urgency. Before weighing options, write down the one question you actually need to answer, in a single sentence. If you can’t write it, you’re not ready to decide yet, and that is useful to know.
Separate facts from fears
Draw two columns. On the left, what you know. On the right, what you’re afraid might happen. Most of the weight usually sits on the right. Seeing it on paper makes it smaller and shows you what you still need to find out.
Then set a date. A decision without a deadline becomes a background hum that follows you into every meeting. Give it a day, tell one person, and keep the promise.