The hard choice model can help you see the kind of a decision you're making – whether it's a no-brainer, a hard choice or something in between. It will enable you to move forward with your decision. 

How to use it

The Hard choice model helps you understand what kind of a decision you’re making and choose the right approach. It’s a 2×2 matrix with two factors:

• Impact: How significant is the outcome of this decision?
• Comparability: How easy is it to compare the options?

Based on this, there are four types of decisions.

1. No-brainer (Low impact, Easy to compare)

These are simple decisions with similar options and low-impact outcomes. For example, choosing a day to schedule a meeting or selecting a presentation template.

Approach: Decide quickly because optimising is a waste of time here.

2. Apples and Oranges (Low impact, Hard to compare)

Decisions where the stakes are still low but options are different in nature. Should you spend your evening reading or exercising? Going to a conference or doing a course for your career growth?

Approach: Focus on what’s important to you and decide based on your current priorities.

3. Big choice (High impact, Easy to compare)

Important decisions with comparable options. For example, choosing between job offers with different salaries and benefits or deciding between flats with different prices and locations.

Approach: Take the time to gather enough information and build confidence through thorough comparison.

4. Hard choice (High impact, Hard to compare)

These are the truly difficult decisions because they have major impact but the options are hard to compare. Should you stay in a senior role at a big company or join an early-stage startup? Continue on an individual contributor path or move into management?

Approach: Accept there is no “right” answer here. Evaluate the different factors: Decision matrix can be a helpful tool to do that. Run a small experiment if possible to mitigate risk.

How to use this model

When you find it hard to make a decision, ask yourself:

• How much will this impact my life?
• How easily can I compare the options?

Based on your answers, this model points you to the right approach for your decision. We often get it wrong and spend too much time on small decisions that don’t really matter and not enough time on the major ones.

The main heuristic here is: the bigger the impact, the more carefully you should proceed. It sounds obvious but it’s not actually practised often enough.

Move forward

When you know which type of decision you’re facing, you can:

• Give it appropriate time and energy
• Stop overthinking small decisions
• Use the right tools for the situation

The hard choice model isn’t about making perfect decisions but it does help to match them to the right approach.