Decisions

Decisive: 6 key ideas

by Chip Heath & Dan Heath

The core ideas of Decisive, each in under a minute, written in our own words. Want the full depth? Get the book.

1. IDEA 1 OF 6

   Widen your options

   Beware "whether or not" decisions.

   Look for more alternatives before choosing.

2. IDEA 2 OF 6

   Reality-test your assumptions

   Seek out disconfirming information and run small experiments before committing.

3. IDEA 3 OF 6

   Attain distance

   Ask what you'd tell a friend, or how you'll feel in ten months.

   Distance reduces short-term emotion.

4. IDEA 4 OF 6

   Prepare to be wrong

   Set tripwires to revisit a decision and plan for the downside.

5. IDEA 5 OF 6

   The WRAP process

   Widen options, reality-test, attain distance, prepare to be wrong.

6. IDEA 6 OF 6

   Ooch

   Try small, low-risk experiments before making big commitments.