Gradations of Decision-Making

A Decision Framing Model

• I have already made the decision and I want to make sure that I inform you
• I have already made the decision and I would like your assistance in implementing it
• I need to make the decision and before I do so I would like your input or that of the group
• I think you and I should make this decision together – it’s important that we agree
• I believe that this is your decision to make – how can I support you?
• I’m not sure who should make this decision – let’s figure it out
• I don’t care who makes this decision, but it’s not mine
• I want or need us to make this decision by group consensus
• We haven’t sufficiently defined the problem or our options so that we are at the point of making a decision 
• I want to consciously defer making any decision at this time

(It's when we're not sure which category we're in, or we have identified one and it is not moving forward, that problems can arise.)