This Week’s Topic: The B.R.A.I.N. Model

1 Strategy 🎯 

To prepare for the birth of our daughter, my wife and I signed up for a birthing class.

A few hours into the class, I found myself getting overwhelmed by the sheer number of things that could potentially go wrong during the birth, and the number of high-stakes decisions I might be expected to make during the birthing process 🫨

And when delivery day finally arrived, there were indeed no shortage of decisions to be made.

Thankfully, I walked away from that birthing class with a powerfully simple decision-making model that helped me approach each decision more thoughtfully and confidently.

It’s called the B.R.A.I.N. Model and it turns out this framework is just as effective in the board room, as it is in the delivery room.

In this week’s email, you’ll learn why decision-making is so difficult when stakes and emotions are high, and how the B.R.A.I.N. model can serve as a valuable tool in your leadership toolkit.

Why is it So Hard to Make Decisions When the Stakes are High?

Decision-making becomes particularly challenging when the stakes are high for two primary reasons.

Pressure & Stress : The higher the stakes, the more pressure we feel to make the ‘best’ decision. This stress can cloud judgement, narrow our perspective on the situation and lead to rushed or emotional decisions.

Fear of Consequences: A hyper-focus on the potential negative outcomes of a poor decision can activate the primal areas of the brain, and deactivate the more evolved regions of the brain responsible for high-level strategic thinking and analysis. In other words, fear makes us dumb.

The B.R.A.I.N. Model

This framework provides a systematic way to approach decision-making by breaking down the process into 5 key components.

(B)enefits

Start by outlining the positive outcomes. What are the potential gains for your team, organization or clients?

Questions to ask:

• What are the immediate advantages of this decision?

• How will this decision contribute to our long-term goals?

(R)isks

Next, identify the potential negative consequences of the decision, and their likelihood of happening.

Questions to ask:

• What are the potential downsides of this decision?

• How likely are these negative outcomes to occur?

(A)lternatives

Make an exhaustive list of alternative options. Evaluating different options will provide a broader perspective and may reveal a better solution.

Questions to ask:

• What other options are available?

• If we removed all constraints, what path would be best?

(I)ntuition

While data and analysis are crucial, never underestimate the value of your intuition. As a leader, your experience and instincts can provide valuable insights.

Questions to ask:

• What is my gut feeling about the best approach?

• How does this decision align with my core values?

(N)othing

Sometimes the best action to take is no action at all. When available, this option allows you to gather more information, reflect, or wait for a better opportunity.

Questions to ask:

• What would happen if we did nothing right now?

• How long can I wait before making this decision?

Below is a handout of the B.R.A.I.N. decision-making framework, which you can download by clicking here.

In sum, the B.R.A.I.N. Model is a powerful tool that can help you and your team make better informed decisions, especially when the stakes and emotions are running high.

By systematically evaluating the benefits, risks, alternatives, your intuition, and the option of doing nothing at all, you can navigate complex decisions with greater call, clarity and confidence.

Did this week’s topic resonate with you? Make a decision to hit ‘reply’ and let me know!

See you next Wednesday,

Darin

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