From time to time, we all do it. We rack our brains. We mull over the facts, the people, the situation, and the opportunity at hand...or the problem at hand. Time passes and, still, we see no real clarity and we find no solution. It's not that we are indecisive. We just don't have the experience or perhaps it's knowledge of the facts. Or we cannot get comfortable about the possible outcomes or actions and changes. Regardless, we are not comfortable making the decision. So, we are racking our brains.

When that happens, wouldn't it be nice if we had a proven way to stop racking our brains.

Here's a suggestion: ask a string of questions, focusing on each question and writing a simple & clear answer to each question before moving to the next question.

Questions:

1. About People: who is involved in the situation?
2. About People: why are these people involved in the situation?
3. About Process: what key tasks are involved?
4. About Process: when, where, and how are the tasks being done?
5. About People & Process: who is doing each task and why? And how?
6. About Process: what could change for the better?
7. About People: how will the people react to these Process changes for the better?

After writing the answers, set the facts and the decision aside...let it simmer...then a good decision will pop into your mind.