Mindful Choices
Worksheet

MINDSET & GROWTH TOOLS

Map your habitual decision patterns against the deliberate alternatives.

Where Autopilot Costs You

The decisions that cost leaders the most are rarely the ones they agonize over. They are the ones made on autopilot - the reflexive response, the default escalation, the habit of avoidance that has been operating so long it stopped feeling like a choice. This worksheet makes those patterns visible by asking you to name them explicitly alongside the deliberate alternative.

The structure is simple: one situation, two columns. What you typically do without thinking, and what a more intentional response might look like. The gap between those two columns is where coaching work happens most often.

The steps below are designed to produce entries that are specific enough to be actionable, not just observations about general tendencies.

How to Use This Worksheet

Start by naming a specific recurring situation. Write it in the Situation field at the top. Choose something that comes up regularly - a type of conversation, a kind of decision, a moment of friction. The more specific, the more useful the rows below will be.
Fill the autopilot column first, without editing. What do you actually do in this situation, not what you intend to do? Write the unvarnished version. The left column should describe behavior, not interpretation.
Write the mindful alternative as a concrete action. Not "be more present" or "respond thoughtfully" - those describe states, not behaviors. "Wait 24 hours before replying to escalation emails" describes what you would actually do.
Use all five rows. A single situation usually has more than one autopilot pattern operating inside it. The rows might reflect different moments in the same sequence, different triggers, or different people involved.
Bring specific rows to your next session. The worksheet is a map, not a plan. Your coach can help you identify which autopilot pattern to address first and how to build the habit of the alternative response.