Set decision deadlines
Perfectionism kills progress. While others wait for perfect information that never comes, top CEOs make good-enough decisions with what they know right now. They understand that speed often trumps perfection. Set time limits on your deliberation process to avoid analysis paralysis and keep moving forward.
“I need to make a decision about [describe your decision]. I’m struggling with overthinking and wanting perfect information. Create a structured decision timeline with specific deadlines for: 1) gathering essential information, 2) consulting key stakeholders, 3) weighing options, and 4) committing to a final choice. For each stage, suggest what ‘good enough’ looks like so I know when to move forward.”
Know what to delegate
Strong CEOs don’t make every decision themselves. They focus their brainpower on high-impact choices and delegate the rest. Most founders waste mental energy on low-stakes decisions that others could handle. Figure out which calls truly need your attention and which ones you can hand off to your (very capable) team.
“Help me identify which decisions I should make personally versus delegate. First, ask me about my current decision-making workload and team structure. Then create a decision matrix with four categories: 1) Critical decisions I must make myself, 2) Decisions I should provide input on but let others finalize, 3) Decisions others should make but inform me about, and 4) Decisions others can make independently. For each category, include specific examples based on my business context.”
Consider future consequences
Average decision-makers focus on immediate outcomes. Exceptional ones think five moves ahead. Top CEOs evaluate how today’s decisions shape tomorrow’s options. They quickly consider the second and third-order effects of their choices, not just the immediate results. Train yourself to see the long-term implications before you commit.
“Guide me through making a decision with long-term thinking. I’m considering [describe decision]. First, help me analyze the immediate impacts of each option I could take. Then, prompt me to consider (a) the second-order effects 1-2 years from now, and (b) third-order effects 5+ years from now. Ask me questions about potential ripple effects on my team, customers, and business model. After our discussion, create a summary that highlights which option best serves my future goals while minimizing long-term risks.”
Build your decision dashboard
CEOs don’t rely on gut feeling alone. They use data to inform their judgment. Create your own decision dashboard to track the metrics that matter most to your business. When you have the right numbers at your fingertips, you’ll make confident calls backed by reality, not just intuition. The data doesn’t lie.
“Help me create a decision dashboard for my role as [your position]. First, ask me about the key areas I’m responsible for and what successful outcomes look like in each area. Then, suggest 7-10 specific metrics I should track regularly to make better decisions. For each metric, explain why it matters and what thresholds should trigger different actions. Include both leading indicators (that help predict future outcomes) and lagging indicators (that show past performance). Format this as a simple dashboard I can review weekly.”
Make decisions like a CEO: prompts to sharpen your judgment
Stop wasting time on indecision and start acting with CEO-level clarity. Create your decision principles to guide your choices consistently over time. Set decision deadlines to maintain momentum when perfectionism threatens to stall you. Know what to delegate so you focus your energy on truly important calls. Consider future consequences to avoid short-sighted moves, and build your decision dashboard to ground your judgment in reality.
The best CEOs are made through consistent practice and smart frameworks. Your next big decision could be the one that changes everything.
