The Decision Dial: A Framework for Clarity, Contribution, and Better Decisions
Why We Built the Decision Dial
Decision-making is one of the most common sources of frustration for leadership teams.
Team members often wonder:
Why did you ask for my input if the decision was already made?
Why are we talking about this again if it was supposedly settled?
Leading through decisions is complex, especially in fast-moving, high-stakes environments. That’s why The Olori Network developed the Decision Dial—a simple, visual tool that helps teams bring transparency, alignment, and rhythm to their decision-making.
What It Is
The Decision Dial helps teams see where a decision stands and what kind of engagement is most useful at each stage.
Instead of defaulting to “everyone weighs in on everything” or “only a few people decide,” the Dial gives leaders a structured way to share:
Where they are in their thinking
How much input they need
What kind of conversation this decision requires
When used consistently, it reduces confusion, surfaces real contribution, and prevents rework.
How It Helps
1. Increases Transparency
Decision-makers can show where they are in their thinking and why. That simple clarity builds trust.
2. Encourages Contribution
The Dial signals how much input is still needed and where it can influence the outcome—so people know when their voices truly matter.
3. Sets Discussion Expectations
By revealing how formed a decision already is, the Dial manages expectations: is this a brainstorming session or a final review?
The result: more efficient meetings, faster progress, and greater ownership of the decisions that follow.
How to Use It
You can apply the Decision Dial in a few simple steps:
1️⃣ Choose an upcoming or recent decision.
2️⃣ Mark where you are on the Dial. Are you exploring, shaping, aligning, or finalizing?
3️⃣ Share it with your team. Let them know what kind of input is most useful right now.
4️⃣ Revisit it later. After decisions are made, reflect on how your team moved through the process.
The framework can be used in leadership team meetings, offsites, or retrospectives—anywhere clarity and alignment are key.
Why It Matters
The most effective teams build both clarity and investment by being explicit about how decisions are made, who is involved, and what’s needed from each person.
The Decision Dial gives leaders a shared language for those conversations—turning what’s often a point of friction into a practice for progress.
Try It With Your Team
Download the Decision Dial worksheet and use it to spark a quick conversation about how your team makes decisions.
You’ll uncover patterns, surface opportunities for clarity, and build a stronger rhythm for collaboration.
[Download the Decision Dial →]
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