When stuck on a tough decision, even if using my process for SOARing through Decisions, stop and make a list of the fears, factors, and forces that are making it tough. Getting them out on the table lets you examine them individually and more objectively.

Some of those factors will probably feed into your objectives – the decision criteria guiding your choice of alternatives. Others belong on your list of risks associated with specific alternatives. Many of the remaining just need to be consciously set aside because they represent unknowns that simply can’t become known during the course of your decision.

For more tips on tough decisions, read How to Get Unstuck When Making Decisions.