The Cool-Headed Framework

A proven 3-step process for making confident decisions under uncertainty

The Problems We Solve

Smart teams stall when hidden constraints and unspoken commitments shape choices more than facts.

Hidden Decisions

Decisions are being made in hallways, Slack channels, and boardrooms—but not in your strategy sessions.

Conflicting Goals

Different stakeholders have different priorities, creating paralysis and suboptimal outcomes.

Organizational Trauma

Past failures create fear and risk-aversion, preventing bold but necessary decisions.

Risk-Reward Clarity

Teams lack clear understanding of trade-offs, leading to analysis paralysis.

The Cool-Headed Lens

1

Discover

Surface hidden constraints and unspoken commitments that shape decisions more than facts.

People

Who has influence? Who's committed? Who's resistant?

Power

What are the real decision-making dynamics?

Pressure

What are the hidden constraints and deadlines?

Proof

What evidence will convince stakeholders?

Artefact: Decision Landscape

People: CEO, CTO, Board Chair, Sales VP
Power: CEO has final say, CTO has technical veto
Pressure: Q4 deadline, budget constraints
Proof: Customer validation, technical feasibility

Artefact: Commitment Charter

Decision: Launch Product X in Q4
Why: Market opportunity, competitive advantage
Who: CTO leads development, Sales VP owns go-to-market
What: MVP by Oct 1, full launch by Dec 1
2

Decide

Align stakeholders around clear commitments with explicit ownership and accountability.

Clear Decision

What exactly are we deciding?

Shared Why

Why is this the right decision?

Explicit Owners

Who owns what, by when?

Commitment Level

How committed is each stakeholder?

3

Deliver

Execute with confidence through structured cadence, clear governance, and rapid course-correction.

90-Minute Decisions

From debate to decisive action

Weekly Checkpoints

Regular progress reviews and course-correction

30-Day Proof

Tangible evidence of progress and value

Governance Structure

Clear escalation paths and decision rights

Artefact: 30-Day Proof Plan

Week 1: Technical architecture approved
Week 2: First customer interviews completed
Week 3: MVP prototype built
Week 4: Initial customer feedback gathered

Operating Cadence

90-Minute Decisions

From initial discussion to final decision in a single, focused session. No more endless debate cycles.

Weekly Checkpoints

Regular progress reviews with clear metrics and rapid course-correction when needed.

30-Day Proof

Tangible evidence of progress and value delivery within 30 days of the decision.

Ready to put the framework to work?

By the end of Day 2, you'll have the decision, the why, the owners, and the first proof milestone.