The Choices Template

Back in 2015, Heather Martinez and I designed a visual template for a one-off facilitation that I still use to this day. It’s a structured approach to think about the choices someone has before them, and I’ve found that when I use it, I end up considering options I hadn’t thought of before.

Begin by writing your top five values in the sunrise. If you’ve never done a values sort, I recommend the Kouzes and Posner card deck, but any values list will do. 

Then, consider your ideas, and write those in the clouds. This is brainstorming space. Don’t be too polished, just take raw notes. Maybe you have an idea that you want to run a marathon this year. Just write it down in any form. 

Then, write your choices. These are the options you have available to you in support of your ideas. For example, some choices might be, “Run the Marine Corps Marathon” or “Run the Walt Disney World Marathon” or “Run the Honolulu Marathon.” 

Then, write your Support structures and Resources (usually you write these at the same time as they occur to you.) Support structures are people and organizations; for example, “Potomac Running Club” or “Bob the personal trainer” or “my neighbor who’s always out running.” Resources can be money, time, knowledge, or material, like “Fancy running shoes” or “an alarm clock I can’t hit snooze on” or “a calendar with a training schedule.”

A visual template helps turn good ideas into actions. 

PS: If you’re interested in how visual templates can help you and your team make better choices, let’s talk. https://calendly.com/brian-lizardbrain/45-min-discovery-call