10 Meta‑Questions to Ask Before Any Decision

Most decisions fail because you don’t even notice you’re making one—and so you skip reversibility, consequences, and who needs to be involved.

Why does this happen?

Because urgency, office politics, and the need to look decisive, push you into automatic decisions.

In an urge to be seen as decisive, you make decisions so quickly that no one in the office sees you blink.

But real leadership is different: it’s recognising you’re a decision‑maker, and taking responsibility for how you decide, not just what you choose.

Does a sales discount plan require a full board meeting?

I doubt it.

But saying yes, on the spot, to a six‑month strategic partnership that ties up your sales team and demands a big stock investment?

Absolutely not.

The fix for being overly decisive—or paralysed—isn’t more data.

It’s better questions.

When you’re making a new hire or adjusting strategy, pause and ask yourself one meta‑question about the decision itself—before you touch the solution:

1. What decision are you making, and what is the goal?
2. Who will make the final decision, and how will you involve others?
3. What is the core of the issue?
4. What assumptions and biases must you be aware of?
5. What metaphors shape your view of this decision?
6. What values matter in this decision?
7. What criteria guide your final decision?
8. What is the ripple effect of this decision?
9. How should we decide, and where should effort be applied?
10. Is now a good time for this decision, or should it be deferred?

You don’t need all ten.

One good question is enough to wake you up to the meta‑decision.

Quite simply: before you decide what, decide how. Good leadership doesn’t start with speed. It starts with questions that make your decisiveness smarter.

Decide the process first—and your decisions will finally start to match the weight of your leadership.

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