Decision-making can be a daunting task, leaving you stuck and unsure of the best path forward.
But what if there was a simple framework to help you navigate through your choices with clarity and confidence?
Here’s the TL;DR version:
RAW Decision-Making Framework: Ready, Available, and Willing.
This straightforward approach provides clear and actionable relief to your indecision overwhelm. But let’s break it down a bit further.
Ready 🏁
The first step in making any decision is assessing whether you are ready. This involves understanding the urgency and importance of the decision at hand. Ask yourself:
- Is this decision something that needs to be made now, or can it wait?
- Do I have all the necessary information to make an informed choice?
- Am I mentally and emotionally prepared to tackle this decision?
Being ready means you recognize the need for a decision and have prepared yourself to address it head-on.
Available 🕒
Next, consider your availability. This involves evaluating your current resources and capacity to implement the decision. Ask yourself:
- Do I have the time to commit to this decision and its consequences?
- Are the necessary resources (financial, human, technological) available to support this decision?
- Is my team or support system prepared to assist with the implementation?
Availability ensures that you have the bandwidth and resources to follow through on your decision without overextending yourself.
Willing 💪
Finally, determine your willingness. This is about assessing your motivation and commitment to the decision. Think about:
- Am I genuinely motivated to pursue this course of action?
- Do I believe in the benefits and potential outcomes of this decision?
- Am I prepared to accept the risks and challenges that come with it?
Willingness is about having the drive and determination to see your decision through to completion.
Applying the RAW Framework
Let’s walk through a hypothetical scenario to see how the RAW framework can be applied:
Imagine you’re considering launching a new product line. Here’s how you might use the RAW framework:
- Ready: Assess if the market demand justifies the new product. Do you have the necessary research and insights to proceed? Are you prepared to start development?
- Available: Check if you have the financial resources, team capacity, and time to develop, market, and launch the product. Is your current workload manageable, or would this new project stretch your resources too thin?
- Willing: Determine if you and your team are excited and committed to this new venture. Are you passionate about the product and its potential impact? Are you ready to tackle the challenges that may arise?
Systematically working through these steps, gives you clarity and confidence in your decision-making process.
Next time you’re faced with a tough choice, try applying the RAW framework. You might find that decisions become less overwhelming and more manageable, leading to better outcomes for you and your business, organization or ministry.
Micah Foster, Co-Owner
Micah Foster is a partner at Dream Support LLC who has been providing remote executive assistants to busy leaders who need administrative and organizational help for over five years.
He has a passion for creating and maintaining positive and productive work environments and empowering people to reach their full potential.