𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱: 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗴𝗼 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗶𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀... 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗿

During my studies, my economics professor, Prof. Becks, taught a decision-making framework that I’ve grown to appreciate much more in my professional life — especially now with my coaching background.

The framework is simple yet powerful:
1️⃣ Define a clear problem statement or goal
2️⃣ Set criteria and priorities/weighting for evaluating solution alternatives
3️⃣ Develop solution alternatives
4️⃣ Evaluate alternatives based on step 2
5️⃣ Decide and execute

Recently, I saw a situation where a PO team was tasked with creating a concept to reach a specific goal. But discussions kept going in circles.

The root cause?
The initial goal was too ambitious. Then the team discussed a mix of alternative goals and solution alternatives. 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 of 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭, 𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢, and 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴, the conversation was 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦.

💡 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲? 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗿:

1. Reset the discussion

2. Clearly define the 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹

3. Provide 𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮 with priorities/weightings before brainstorming

4. ONLY THEN explore solution alternatives

This gives the team focus and orientation for finding solutions.

Thank you, Prof. Becks, for your wisdom — it’s been invaluable in real-life leadership challenges!