Decision Analysis
Worksheet

PLANNING & ORGANIZATION TOOLS

Weigh your options with structure instead of instinct alone.

Where This Tool Helps

Most decisions stall not because the options are equal but because the criteria aren't clear. A list of pros and cons helps — but only when you weight the items. Five minor conveniences shouldn't outweigh one critical risk. Without a weighting step, you're counting votes instead of measuring impact.

This worksheet adds that step. Each item gets a score from 1 to 5 based on how much it actually matters. When you total the weighted scores, the numbers reflect importance, not just quantity. You may find the decision was never close — or you may find it's closer than you assumed, which is equally useful to know.

How to Use This Worksheet

Write the decision clearly. State it as a specific choice, not a vague concern. "Should I accept this job offer?" not "my career situation."
List your pros and cons. Don't filter yet — write everything that comes to mind. You can cross out less relevant items after.
Assign a weight to each item. Use a scale of 1 (minor factor) to 5 (critical factor). Be honest: most items are 1s and 2s. Reserve 4–5 for factors that would change the outcome on their own.
Total the weighted scores for each column. The gap between the totals is more informative than the raw count of pros vs. cons.