When Michael Phelps won his 19th medal in the 200 meter freestyle relay, he became the most decorated Olympian ever. That is an indisputable fact.

When Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian ever, a debate began. Is Phelps the greatest Olympian? The greatest athlete?

Ask either question and enthusiastic voices promote favorite alternatives. The debate revs up. And it goes on and on.

This debate is a perfect example of a trap people get sucked into every day, but one that is easily avoided.

Arguing Phelps vs. Lance Armstrong vs. Roger Federer vs. LeBron James vs. Wayne Gretzky vs. your favorite is typical, time-consuming, and hopeless. These are all alternatives, and no one is going to agree unless they can first agree on the decision criteria. How would one select the greatest athlete of all time?

• Speed
• Strength
• Flexibility
• Technical precision
• Balance
• Reflexes
• Endurance
• Domination
• Number of sports

Any one of these is meaningless as listed, of course. For example, if speed is important, is that speed while running, swimming, skating, or something else, and over what distance? And which of these are most important? If you can’t agree on these criteria, you will never agree on a greatest athlete.

Never mind that this particular debate is hopeless given the number of potential factors, the differences between sports, and the inability to assess athletes on each criteria, especially those long dead. The point is our propensity to endlessly discuss alternatives without first attempting to establish decision criteria. And just as this debate can suck up many hours, reach no conclusion, and generate hard feelings in the process, there are countless real decisions doing the same in your company right now. While many of those decisions have a greater chance at resolution than the greatest athlete debate, it doesn’t mean that they are being handled quickly and effectively.

Pay attention to the many decisions surrounding you and notice when people are talking about alternatives as opposed to the criteria needed to make any smart decision. Are they talking about Gretzky, Phelps, and James or are they talking about speed, flexibility, and number of medals? Practice spotting the difference and you are on track to provide tremendous value to the decisions going on around you.