February 12, 2026 · 2 min read
I make critical decisions everyday. Some choices are obvious to make and can be done in a few minutes. Others such as hiring decisions can take days.
Here is how I make decisions.
1. Identify the type of decision. A split in paths or a branch off the main path. Splits can be choosing whether to hire one candidate over another. A branch can be choosing whether or not to open a new position. For splits, decide quickly. The more you think about it, the more brain fog you will get and risk falling into analysis paralysis. If you make a decision on the branch, you should make sure you won't regret it. Take your time.
2. Identify the risk of making the wrong decision. High risk branch-off decisions should be treated carefully and you should take the extra time to come to the right decision. Low risk decisions should be made within a few hours.
3. Figure out the "why". Great, now we figured out how much time you should spend on making your decision. But what if you are still stuck and still can't decide? Go a few layers deeper into your [company's] goals. Let's say you are deciding if you are choosing to move to a new country. 1. Why did you choose to move in the first place? 2. What do you expect to get out of the move? 3. Why are you hesitant? All hard decisions have at least three core "why" questions. This is similar to Chris Voss' black swan concept in negotiation. By answering all of your "why" questions, you will almost always come to the right choice.
4. Get external input. Find 1-3 people close to you to get their input. It's possible you will get conflicting inputs so choose one person you love or trust whose opinion you will value over everyone else.
5. The coin flip method. If all strategies have been exhausted, flip a coin with the intention of listening to the coin flip. If you are hesitant or unsure with the result of the coin flip, choose the other path and don't look back.