This checklist helps you pick actions that are evidence-informed and workable. Use it with teams to reduce opinion-based choices.

The decision checklist

  1. Fit: Does the action address the likely cause, not just the symptom?

  2. Feasibility: Do we have time, people, and capability to do it well?

  3. Clarity: Can we explain the action in one sentence?

  4. Equity: Who benefits, and who might be left behind?

  5. Risk: What could go wrong, and how will we reduce it?

  6. Reversibility: Can we stop or adjust without damage?

  7. Ownership: Who is responsible for day-to-day follow-through?

  8. Evidence: What evidence would count as “working”?

Two leader questions that sharpen choices

  • “What would we stop doing to make space for this?”

  • “What would success look like in four weeks?”

Key Takeaways

  • Use a checklist to improve consistency across leaders.

  • Make trade-offs explicit, not implied.

  • Define what “working” means before you begin.

Quick Check

Choose one proposed action in your context. Run it through the checklist and note one risk.