Decision Options

Lays out several genuinely different ways to approach a problem or decision Example Rewrite the deadline problem: Instead of asking how to make people work faster, ask where the work is expanding without control. The trade-off is that this can feel uncomfortable because it may expose scope creep, weak priorities, or bottlenecks. Cut the surface area: Remove or pause lower-value tasks, optional meetings, and “nice to have” deliverables so the team has fewer commitments to miss. The trade-off is that some stakeholders may feel disappointed or deprioritized. Work backward from the finish: Start with the deadline and map the minimum steps needed to reach it, then build checkpoints that force earlier visibility. The trade-off is that it can be rigid and may leave less room for discovery or last-minute changes. Change the system around the team: If deadlines are consistently unrealistic, adjust intake, approval cycles, dependencies, or stakeholder expectations instead of only pushing the team harder. The trade-off is that it requires coordination beyond the team and may take time to stick. Shrink the problem first: Pick one recurring project and run a short, strict experiment with smaller scope, tighter feedback loops, and fewer handoffs. The trade-off is that it solves the immediate pattern only in a limited case before scaling.