When everything feels high stakes, your team hesitates.

Not because they lack capability.
Not because they don’t care.

But because somewhere along the way, every decision started getting treated like it’s irreversible.

And that changes how people show up.

You see it in subtle ways:

• Over-discussing decisions that should take minutes

• Escalating things that should stay local

• Waiting for certainty that never comes

What’s actually happening?

Leaders unintentionally train their teams to believe:

“If I get this wrong, there’s no coming back.”

So instead of speed, you get caution.
Instead of ownership, you get hesitation.

A Simple Distinction Most Leaders Miss

Jeff Bezos built Amazon on a simple distinction:

Not all decisions carry the same weight.

But most organizations treat them like they do.

And that’s where things break.

The Filter That Changes Everything

There’s a simple question that shifts how decisions get made:

Is this hard to undo… or just uncomfortable to decide?

That one filter determines:

• When to move fast

• When to slow down

• When to involve others

• When to trust your team to act

How to Apply This Immediately

Try this with your next 3 decisions:

• Step 1: Ask → Is this reversible?

• Step 2: If yes → decide fast, keep it local

• Step 3: If no → slow down, expand input, think long-term

Then watch what changes:

• Faster decisions where it used to drag

• More ownership from your team

• Less escalation on things that don’t need it

Type 1 vs. Type 2 Decisions

Most teams don’t lack decision-making ability.
They lack clarity on which type of decision they’re making.

FAQ: Decision-Making in Practice

How do I know if a decision is truly irreversible?
If reversing it would be costly, complex, or damaging to trust or reputation—it’s likely Type 1.

What if my team still escalates everything?
That’s usually a signal they don’t feel safe making decisions.
Clarity helps—but so does reinforcing: “You’re trusted to decide here.”

Can a decision start as Type 2 and become Type 1?
Yes. Small decisions can compound.
That’s why it’s important to reassess as things evolve.

What’s the biggest mistake leaders make with this framework?
Treating everything like Type 1.
It slows teams down and quietly erodes ownership.

What if we move too fast and get it wrong?
That’s the point of Type 2 decisions—they’re designed to be adjusted.
Speed + learning beats slow perfection in most cases.

Watch the Full Breakdown

I walk through this in more detail in this week’s Leadership Alliance video, including:

• The difference between Type 1 and Type 2 decisions

• Why most teams default to the wrong one