Peak Command · Guide · Better decisions
Better business decisions
without mistaking luck for skill.
Five habits for better decisions: separate quality from outcome, tell reversible from final, run a pre-mortem, use base rates and keep a decision journal.
Which decision do you want to make better this time?
2 questions in the plan. First question: Could you reverse the decision in four weeks without much damage?
Good decisions in five habits
Reversible or not? What could fail?
Could you reverse the decision in four weeks without much damage?
You can't control the outcome, but you can control the way you decide.
Good decision-makers don't have more luck; they have better habits: they tell how much is at stake, look for reasons to fail beforehand and write down what they expect. In Peak Command you record decisions with a reason and a review date; decision memory later shows what you expected and what happened.
From reading to doing
Your decision check. For a real question.
The next decision.
2 questions selected
- Could you reverse the decision in four weeks without much damage?
If yes: decide fast. If no: check thoroughly.
- Imagine it's a year later and it went wrong. Why?
Write down three reasons. Plan against the likeliest one.
What makes a good
decision.
A good decision can turn out badly and a bad one well. Judge the process by which you decided, not only the outcome.
Could you reverse the decision in four weeks without much damage?
If yes: decide fast. If no: check thoroughly.
Reversible or finalMake reversible decisions fast and final ones thoroughly.
Base ratesHow often does this work for others? That's the starting value, not your gut.
JournalWhat you expected beforehand shows you later how well you estimate.
The playbook
Three checks before deciding.
Classify, test,
write it down.
Door → Pre-mortem → Journal
- 01
Reversible or final?
Check what reversing would cost. Often a final decision can be turned into a reversible one: test first, then commit.
Example · Nordwind Studio (fictional)Second office in Hamburg, 5-year lease.
Hard to reverse → thorough. Trial with co-working: reversible → fast. - 02
Let it fail beforehand.
Imagine the failure and collect reasons. That lowers the barrier to voicing concerns and makes risks plannable instead of surprising.
Pre-mortem
“Biggest risk: too few local projects. Countermeasure: 3 commitments before signing.”“It'll work out.” - 03
Write it down and compare later.
Note expectation, confidence and criterion beforehand. Compare on the review date. Across many decisions you learn whether you tend to be too optimistic or too cautious.
Decision journalExpectation: 70% sure, criterion 3 projects by March.
In March: 2 projects. What did I miss?
Your quality check
Did you decide well?
Tick what you have checked. Your selection stays in this view only.
0 of 4 points checked
What this article is based on.
Editorial guide with a fictional example and made-up numbers. The pre-mortem (after Gary Klein) and the reversible-or-final distinction are common methods, not Peak features. Recording, review dates and decision memory exist in Peak Command today.
- Evidence pending
Editorial guide with fictional companies and numbers. No customer data, no measured values, no customer results.
Sort your open decisions.
The decision priority calculator helps you, locally in the browser, take the most important open question first.
Frequently asked questions
Why set criteria before the options?
So you do not talk up the option you already like.
How do I learn from past decisions?
By recording them with their reasons and comparing at the review date. Peak Command keeps them in a searchable decision memory.
Does Peak Command decide for me?
No. It puts decisions with sources in front of you. You decide and record them.