Decision-making is hard. Like really hard. Especially when it comes to big life choices – Should I change jobs? Move cities? End a relationship? Start a business?
Decisions like these can wreak havoc on our emotions. Anxiety creeps in. Self-doubt hijacks our thoughts. Analysis paralysis kicks in. Days, weeks, even months can go by while we agonize over what to do.
And in the end, we all too often just go with our gut instinct or let circumstance make the choice for us.
But making a good decision doesn’t have to be an endless spiral of confusion, stress and uncertainty. With the right approach, you can cut through the complexity, gain clarity, and make choices you feel confident about.
Enter the PROACT decision-making framework.
Developed at the Harvard Business School in the bestseller Smart Choices, this 5-step system gives you a blueprint for tackling tough decisions in a systematic way.
As someone who overthinks just about everything, learning PROACT has been a total game-changer for me. I now have a reliable mental model I can apply to figure things out, step-by-logical step. No more late nights staring at the ceiling wondering “What the heck should I do?!”
In this article, we’ll walk through exactly how to use the PROACT framework to make clearer, smarter choices when faced with difficult decisions.
Why Decision-Making Matters
Before we dive into the nitty gritty of PROACT, it’s helpful to understand why improving our decision-making abilities matters so much.
Decisions determine whether we reach our goals. The choices we make – from small things like what to cook for dinner to huge life calls like starting a family or launching a business – directly impact what we’re able to accomplish. Make enough poor decisions and suddenly your dreams drift further and further out of reach.
Big decisions are stressful. They trigger anxiety, expose us to judgment from friends and family, and often force us into unfamiliar territory full of uncertainty. Looking for a new job when you don’t know what’s available or if you’ll get hired somewhere else is terrifying.
We make decisions all the time. From little micro-moments like whether to hit snooze or get straight out of bed to major crossroads that shape the entire trajectory of our lives, hardly a minute goes by when we aren’t choosing some path forward. Mastering when and how to make certain decisions can greatly improve our overall quality of life.
Decision-Making is a critical leadership skill. As much as 65% of a manager’s workday is spent problem solving and making decisions. Honing how you approach choices will make you far more effective at work.
But wait, there’s more! Becoming a skilled decision maker pays dividends in all other parts of life too:
- Relationships – Deciding whether a partner is right for you long-term, resolving disagreements, etc.
- Health & Fitness – Choosing foods, planning workout regimens, sticking to habits.
- Personal Finance – Budgeting, managing debt, investing money.
- Time Management – Prioritizing how you spend your hours and minutes.
- Spirituality – Determining beliefs, finding meaning and purpose.
I don’t know about you, but I want to get really damn good at making decisions! When done right, clear choices lead to achieving goals, less stress, better relationships… essentially a life with fewer regrets and more joy.
Let’s level up our decision making skills!
Why We Struggle with Decisions
Before we jump into the step-by-step PROACT model, it’s helpful to understand why we humans stink so much at making clear, effective choices in the first place.
1. Lack the right mental systems – We simply haven’t been taught useful frameworks to break down decisions and make sense of all the variables at play. Without a model for thinking it through, our brains default to shortcuts like choosing whatever “feels right” in the moment or asking someone else what we should do.
2. Too much information – The amount of data at our fingertips is utterly overwhelming. Scrolling social media, Googling pros and cons lists, asking everyone for their advice on what to do. All that information just clouds the situation instead of bringing clarity.
3. Fear of regret – Few things feel worse than making a choice you later wish you could go back in time and undo. So we obsess endlessly, trying to determine the “perfect” decision only to realize there’s really no such thing. Gotta go with the best call based on what we know now.
4. Changing circumstances – What seemed like the right decision a month ago feels like the wrong one today as new factors emerge. We get caught in an endless loop of updating, analyzing, second-guessing.
See yourself in any of those pitfalls? You’re so not alone. Surveys reveal at least 70% of people experience significant angst around decisions.
Let’s fix that with PROACT!
PROACT Step 1 – Frame the Problem
The first step of PROACT is often the most crucial one when it comes to improving decision quality: properly defining the actual problem you need to solve.
You might think you already have the problem clearly framed in your mind. For example:
“Should I ask for a promotion?”
Seems straightforward enough. But by asking some probing “why” questions and looking at the situation from different angles, you can unravel all sorts of insightful nuances and possibilities:
Why do you want a promotion?
Well, to have more influence in my department, take on more responsibility, and make more money of course!
Why is making more money important?
So I can pay off student loans faster, afford that trip to Europe I’ve been wanting to take, and buy a house someday.
Ok, so why is buying a house a goal?
To fix up a place perfect for hosting friends and family, have more space for my creative hobbies, and generally upgrade my lifestyle.
Why not find a higher paying job elsewhere then if money is the main aim?
Hmm, had’t thought of that. Well, I do like the work I do here and my coworkers. But maybe there are higher salary options I’m ignoring. Let me ponder…
See how asking “why” unveils helpful new angles? The initial problem shifts from a simplistic yes/no on asking for a promotion to a richer set of options about career next steps for increased income and an upgraded lifestyle.
Reframing the initial problem opens up better solutions.
Here are some other ways to reframe a decision to reveal the actual problem you need to solve:
Look at the longer time horizon – How might this situation look 5 years from now with and without various choices? What’s best in the long run?
Question your assumptions – What if the opposite was true? Am I missing anything? Talk to people who disagree.
Zoom out to the bigger purpose – Connect the decision back to your core values, life vision and goals. What ultimately matters most here?
Spend time digging into the full context before rushing into potential solutions. It’s totally normal for the right problem definition to morph as you unpack layers of nuance.
Jot down some decision you’re currently mulling over. Start asking “why” questions around it and try reframing the problem from a few different angles. Cool stuff, right?!
Okay, onto the next piece of PROACT!
PROACT Step 2 – Define Your Objectives
Objectives describe how you’ll know if a particular path forward successfully solves the decision problem and gets you to where you want to go. Think of objectives like a compass bearing guiding you towards the ultimate destination.
Let’s say the decision you’re grappling with is “Should I ask my boss for a raise?”
The objectives help outline what “success” would look like for taking (or not taking) that route. For instance:
- Increase salary by least 10% (more money!)
- Maintain positive relationship with manager (don’t piss them off)
- Gain recognition for contributions (bolster case for future promotions)
See how the objectives create decision criteria and a vision of a desired outcome? They’re essential goalposts for properly evaluating any potential path forward.
Now, those sample objectives above are reasonably straightforward. But drilling down to define super clear objectives can get trickier with more complex personal decisions:
Should I quit my stable but boring job at a big corporation and join a friend’s risky startup venture instead?
Yikes, that’s a doozy with LOTS of angles to evaluate. Income, career growth, job enjoyment, networking, financial security, stress levels, etc.
Here’s a 3-step process to clarify your objectives on any hairy decision:
Step 1: Brainstorm a Long List
Don’t self-censor here. Get ALL your hopes, interests and desired outcomes for this situation down on paper. Dream big and don’t worry yet if it’s all feasible or mutually compatible.
For our job decision dilemma, the brainstorm might look like:
- Make more money
- Have ownership in a successful business
- Increase leadership skills
- Connect with cool mentors
- Eliminate boredom
- Do work I’m passionate about
- Flexible schedule
- Low risk to steady paycheck
- Impress friends with a “sexy” startup job
- Keep low stress levels
- Be home more for family
- Maintain work/life balance
Step 2: Narrow to a Short List
Which of those desires feel absolutely essential vs. just nice-to-have? Cross out any that aren’t critical. Condense overlaps for brevity.
For our job switch scenario, paring it down gives:
- Increase income
- Help create a successful business
- Leadership development
- Do enjoyable work
- Maintain low risk/stability
Ah the agony of choice! We often can’t satisfy every single objective fully. But having the key hopes and must-haves crystallized provides critical insight.
Step 3: Define Measurable Metrics
Now translate the qualitative objectives into concrete numbers and metrics for easier evaluation. This quantification also creates tangible goalposts to reference later for checking if the decision worked out.
For example, fleshing out the narrowed objectives:
- Income – Increase salary from $75K to $100K+ within 2 years
- Business success – Company sold for $15M+ within 5 years
- Leadership – Move from current mid-level individual contributor role to Director position managing 5+ direct reports within 3 years
- Enjoyment – Rate job satisfaction 8/10 or higher
- Stability – Keep emergency fund savings buffer equal to minimum 6 months of basic living expenses
Phew, creating super clear objectives is work! But now you know exactly where you hope this decision will lead in stark, measurable terms. Time to find out if any options can actually get you there!
Objectives create a vision of the destination we hope our decision leads to.
What decision you’re currently mulling over? Jot down some initial objectives then narrow and flesh out metrics for the vital few. Get clear!
PROACT Step 3: Develop Alternatives
Time to search for available routes to your decision destination! This step is all about creative brainstorming to generate a menu of options then analyzing if any might fulfill your objectives.
Returning to our example of potentially leaving a steady big company job for an exciting young startup, some alternative paths forward might include:
1. Stay in Current Job
- Seek expanded responsibilities and higher pay
- Ask for occasional work-from-home days
- Find passion projects after work
2. Join Startup Full-Time
- Negotiate salary + equity ownership stake
- Push hard towards leadership role fast
- Build safety net savings ASAP
3. Consult for Startup Part-Time
- Keep current job’s steady paycheck
- Scratch entrepreneurship itch nights/weekends
- Grow startup equity share over time
4. Start My Own Venture
- Begin freelancing to test runway
- Validate startup ideas nights/weekends
- Line up mentors for advice
What other options can you brainstorm? Two approaches I love for sparking creative ideas are…
Ask “How Might I” for Each Objective
Earlier we defined clear objectives like making more money, having ownership stake for upside, developing leadership skills, etc. Now ponder:
*How might I increase my income?_
- Negotiate raise at BigCompany?
- Join startup with bonus + equity package?
- Start freelancing on the side?
*How might I gain ownership stake in a business?_
- Start my own thing!
- Join friends’ startup
- Invest in some local company
Keep listing possibilities for achieving each objective you defined.
Use SCAMPER
This creativity exercise stimulates ideas by prompting you to look at the situation from different angles:
- Substitute
- Combine
- Adapt
- Modify
- Put to other uses
- Eliminate
- Rearrange
For example:
- SUBSTITUTE my boredom and stability for risk and passion.
- COMBINE freelance work while still at BigCompany.
- ADAPT my skills to a whole new industry.
- MODIFY my role to have more ownership and input.
- PUT my business idea skills to use at a startup.
- ELIMINATE the dullness but keep the security through side gigs.
Fun, right?! Now, not every alternative dreamed up here will prove feasible or the “best” path. But that’s okay! Generating creative choices maximizes the likelihood you’ll find a real winner.
Jot down a decision on your mind right now. Start listing some alternatives for routes forward using “How Might I” and SCAMPER. Get creative!
PROACT Step 4: Understand Consequences
Alright, the creative juices are flowing with alternatives in hand! But which option seems like the one that can actually get you to the destination defined by your objectives?
This next piece of the PROACT framework is all about investigating the potential consequences of choosing each path.
Let’s use our startup vs corporate job example:
If I leave BigCompany for the startup, what happens?
- Unstable income while business scales
- Need to live cheaply to protect savings
- 12+ hour workdays and weekends common
- High pressure to deliver results with small team
- Significant career growth and leadership reps if successful
- Huge financial upside if business acquired or goes public
Really getting clear on the full implications of each path equips you to properly weigh the tradeoffs at play. Some key ways to map out consequences:
Imagine The Future Scenario
Mentally fast forward 5 years and envision life with this choice made. What does work and personal life look like? Flesh out details of the realistic real-life impacts.
Describe Outcomes & Gather Facts
What stats or estimates can you gather to quantify the effects of a given course? Talk to people who’ve traveled there. Do quick analysis to project earnings, budget requirements, potential market size etc. Even rough figures go far in evaluating options.
Relate Back To Objectives
How does each consequence aid or inhibit the goals and hopes outlined earlier? Revisiting the specific objectives defined upfront provides the measuring stick for determining what option looks most likely to get you successfully from point A to point B.
For example, playing out the career change decision:
If I leave for the startup, will that…
- Get my income to $100K+ within 2 years? Unlikely.
- Lead to a $15M company sale within 5 years? Maybe, hard to predict.
- Grow my leadership skills managing 5+ reports within 3 years? Highly possible if successful.
- Keep job enjoyment rating 8/10 or higher? Yes, very engaging work.
- Maintain 6+ month emergency fund savings? Will deplete unless I budget strictly.
See how relating each consequence back to the exact metrics you outlined makes weighing complex tradeoffs far more manageable?
Here’s one more hack that can help condense all the messy complexity down to an easy-to-scan format…
Create A Consequence Table
With all the options and their implications clarified, make a simple table summary:
- Put your well defined objectives on left vertical axis
- List alternative choices across top horizontal header row
- Note each alternative’s effectiveness in fulfilling an objective as High/Med/Low in cells
Here’s roughly how that consequence table could take shape for the career change decision:
The high level view reveals maintaining stability and savings will be nearly impossible if I join the startup full-time now given their early stage. Maybe consulting part-time allows me to dip a toe in while keeping my financial bedrock in place?
See how the consequence matrix gives you an at-a-glance perspective to compare options against original goals? Such a helpful tool for complex choices!
Pick any hairy decision currently on your plate. Start noting potential implications and complications for a couple alternatives. Investigation brings insight!
PROACT Step 5: Make Tradeoffs
We’ve covered a lot of ground work now.The final step of the PROACT framework synthesize all that fact finding, analysis and creativity into determining the best course.
Making complex personal choices almost always involves tradeoffs – desire A competes with desire B. By thoughtfully weighing options against metrics meaningful to you, the path forward gets clearer.
Let’s wrap up with the last pieces of choosing whether to stick with the stable corporate gig or jump to the chaotic but exciting startup using a 4 step tradeoff balancing process:
Step 1: Assign Goal Weights
Earlier we defined objectives like:
- Increase salary
- Ownership share
- Career growth
- Job satisfaction
- Financial stability
But realistically, some of those matter more to me than others. Assign a weight between 1-10 for importance level.
For instance, I might value:
- Income – Weight 9
- Ownership – Weight 7
- Growth – Weight 8
- Satisfaction – Weight 10
- Stability – Weight 6
Doing this upfront prevents over-optimizing purely for money or title later. The weights keep you honest around what really matters most.
Step 2: Score Alternatives
Next assess how well each option delivers on those weighted goals (10 = completely fulfilling, 0 = utterly failing):
Current Job
- Income: 5
- Ownership: 0
- Growth: 4
- Satisfaction: 3
- Stability: 8
Full-Time Startup
- Income: 2
- Ownership: 9
- Growth: 10
- Satisfaction: 10
- Stability: 2
Step 3: Calculate Totals
Multiplying the importance Weights x those Performance Scores gives overall metrics to compare choices.
For example, with the startup:
- Income
- Weighted Importance = 9
- Performance Score = 2
- Weighted Total = 18 (9 x 2)
Crunching all the numbers for each alternative distills down to single “total fulfillment” scores for the weighted objectives.
Step 4: Select Best Option
The alternative with the highest overall weighted total is likely the best route to pursue. But often multiple options score closely depending on how well they align to different objectives.
Reality check the tight calls more deeply: Which shorter term sacrifices feel acceptable to propel long term dreams? Where might you compromise objectives themselves to reduce conflicts?
For our job change scenario, tallying it up made one choice stand out:
Current Job – Total Score = 235
Full-Time Startup – Total Score = 312
While financially riskier in the short term, joining the startup full steam has the best change of maximizing career growth and happiness. And I can always revert to corporate life worst case or if my priorities morph later with kid/family demands.
Of course, make such a huge personal leap rationally and carefully. But by systematically weighting core motivations against possible paths using PROACT, the way forward crystallizes.
On any complex, high stakes decision mulling in your mind right now, try out the full PROACT 5 Step decision making framework process:
P – Frame the core Problem
R – Define your key Objectives
O – Develop creative Alternative options
A – Understand Consequences of choices
C – Compare Tradeoffs to select best route
Transform confusing dilemmas into confident decisions!
I sincerely hope walking through the PROACT model gave you an awesome new toolbox to tackle any tricky life choices cluttering up your mental space.
Decisions certainly won’t always be easy. Uncertainty and anxiety about making the “wrong” call will creep in. But having a structured game plan to analyze options against your goals provides huge clarity.
Learning this clear cut system was life changing for me. I now crack into hairy choices following this template to kick out clutter and simplify the complex. Give it a shot next time you’re feeling stuck!
The more you practice PROACT, the more using it becomes second nature. You won’t necessarily walk through every step formally each time. But having the mental model speeds up and sharpens your thinking process.
Here’s to enjoying increased ease, confidence and fulfillment with every choice large and small ahead thanks to leveling up your decision mastery!
What part of the PROACT framework resonates most for you? What decision are you excited to run through the 5 steps? Share your takeaways in the comments!