The WRAP decision-making model, created by Chip and Dan Heath in their book Decisive, is all about helping you make better decisions by avoiding common biases and mistakes.
1. Widen Your Options
When making decisions, we often limit ourselves to just one or two choices, thinking they’re the only options. The first step in the WRAP model is to widen your options — look for alternatives and avoid settling for the first idea that pops up.
Example:
If you’re deciding whether to take a new job, don’t just compare the new offer with your current role. Instead, look at options like:
- Could you ask for a different role in your current company?
- Could you negotiate better terms with the new company?
- Could you look into freelance or consulting work?
The idea is to think broadly and not box yourself in.
2. Reality-Test Your Assumptions
We tend to base decisions on assumptions that might not be true. So, next, you need to reality-test your assumptions. This means checking whether the things you believe are accurate and grounded in fact.
Example:
Let’s say you assume you’ll dislike a certain job because you think it’ll be too stressful. A good reality test would be to talk to people who work there, or do a trial project, to see if that assumption holds up. Try a secondment into a similar role. Conduct small experiments to test your hypothesis. Why predict when you can know.
3. Attain Distance Before Deciding
We’re often influenced by emotions when making decisions, especially big ones. The third step is to attain distance — take a step back so you can make a more rational decision.
Example:
Let’s say you’re deciding whether to buy a car after feeling super excited about a particular model. To gain distance, you could sleep on it for a couple of days or ask a friend about the decision. It helps you think more clearly without the impulse of excitement clouding your judgment.
4. Prepare to Be Wrong
Finally, prepare to be wrong. This is about acknowledging that things might not turn out as expected and being ready to pivot or adjust when things change. Having a backup plan or thinking through what you’d do if your decision doesn’t go as planned will help you avoid regret.
Example:
Imagine you’re a manager at a company and you’re about to launch a new product. You’re confident that it’s going to succeed based on your research, customer feedback, and market trends. However, the “Prepare to Be Wrong” step reminds you that no matter how good the data seems, there’s always a chance things might not go as planned. So, it’s important to have contingency plans in place.
How to Prepare:
- Set up metrics and tracking: Instead of just assuming success, define key performance indicators (KPIs) and set up a system to monitor them from day one. This way, if sales are lower than expected, you can quickly identify and address issues (like rebranding, refining the marketing strategy, or improving product features).
- Create a “Plan B”: Maybe you’ve done a lot of research suggesting your product will be a hit with younger consumers. But what if the audience response is different? Prepare a backup plan for pivoting the product or marketing strategy, such as adjusting to a different demographic or offering complementary services.
- Learn from other failed launches: Look at similar products or companies that launched with high expectations and fell short. Think through what went wrong in their case (e.g., poor customer support, overpromised features, logistical problems) and have strategies in place to avoid those mistakes.
By preparing for the possibility that your product launch might not go exactly as planned, you can stay flexible and adjust more easily if things take a turn. This helps minimize risk and ensures you’re not caught off guard.
Putting It All Together
When you use the WRAP model, you’re essentially making decisions with more options, testing your beliefs, taking emotional distance, and being flexible about your outcome. This helps you make more informed, thoughtful choices and avoid common pitfalls like confirmation bias or decision fatigue.
So next time you’re facing a tough decision, try running it through WRAP and see how it shifts your perspective!
For a more detailed summary of the WRAP Model, CLICK HERE
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