MOVE 14 · DECISION CONTROL · FREE
Set the Decision Criteria First
Agree how a decision will be judged before discussing options, so the outcome rests on shared standards rather than persuasion.
Agree on the measuring stick before anyone holds up their option.
WHY IT WORKS
Once options are on the table, people defend their favourite and treat criteria as weapons. Agreeing criteria first — cost, risk, speed, fit — depersonalises the decision and lets options be compared on ground everyone has accepted.
WHEN TO USE IT
- A group is choosing between competing proposals.
- A promotion or evaluation lacks clear standards.
WHEN NOT TO USE IT
- The decision is small and criteria-setting would be bureaucratic.
- Criteria are imposed by policy and not open to discussion.
SIGNALS IT FITS
- Debate focuses on who proposed what.
- People reject options for reasons that shift each meeting.
PREPARATION
- Draft three to five candidate criteria.
- Propose a rough weight for each.
STEP BY STEP
- Pause discussion of options.
- Propose criteria and invite edits.
- Agree weights or a priority order.
- Score options against the agreed criteria.
OPENING LINE
“Before we compare options, can we agree what a good decision looks like?”
SCRIPT
Before we compare vendors, can we agree on what matters most? I'd suggest total cost, implementation time and support quality — in that order. What would you change?
LIKELY RESPONSES & COUNTERS
- If they add criteria that favour their option
- Accept reasonable ones and ask the group to rank them openly.
- If they want to skip straight to options
- Ask for five minutes on criteria; it will save time later.
SECOND MOVE
Once criteria are agreed, use Name the Decision with a date.
FOLLOW-UP
Circulate the agreed criteria so later debates can refer to them.
COMMON MISTAKES
- Choosing criteria designed to favour your preferred option.
- Leaving criteria unweighted.
WALK-AWAY CONDITIONS
- Agreed criteria are ignored when the outcome is decided.
EXAMPLE (FICTIONAL)
A director's team was split between two CRM vendors. Agreeing three weighted criteria first took fifteen minutes; scoring took another ten, and the losing side accepted the result.
ETHICAL BOUNDARY
Propose criteria you would accept even if your option lost.
RELATED MOVES
Content version 1 · Drafted by Power Move IQ Editorial · Not yet human-reviewed · Educational decision support, not legal, financial or employment advice.