Define Criteria Early
What matters most — before we start comparing?
Before looking at any options, write down the three things that would make this decision a success. Rank them in order of importance. These are your criteria — evaluate everything against them.
You're weighing competing choices that all look 'good enough' for different reasons.
You already have clear, measurable requirements and restating them would waste time.
Why it works
Without pre-set criteria, you'll unconsciously retrofit reasons to justify whichever option feels best in the moment.
Once you’ve seen the options, your brain starts building a case for whichever one feels best — retrofitting logic to justify a gut reaction. This happens automatically and invisibly. Setting criteria before you look at choices delays that attachment. You’re not resisting bias through willpower; you’re structuring the decision so the bias doesn’t get a foothold. Even rough ranking — ‘cost matters more than speed, speed matters more than features’ — dramatically reduces the regret that comes from realising you prioritised the wrong thing.