Check a Decision for Ego
Added 2026-10-31
Separate what is good for you from what makes you look right, and invite a challenge.
I am making a decision and suspect ego is involved. Do: 1) find three signs in my description of choosing to look right rather than to get a better outcome; 2) point out whether I would still choose this if nobody knew; 3) design a small test for whether ego is driving it; 4) suggest who should argue against me and how; 5) if ego is confirmed, give a face-saving way to adjust.
Site original
Chinese original
How to use
好决定经得起「没人知道」的假设。
Try tweaking it
- Ask what evidence would overturn the judgement.
- Have it argue both sides with three reasons each.
What you should get
- A decision table: assumptions, evidence, counter-evidence
- A next action with an observable signal
Common mistakes
- Asking only "should I?" and getting equally valid answers both ways.
- Never asking for counter-examples, so you only hear support.
How to check the output
- It states what evidence would overturn the conclusion.
- Both sides are argued, with assumptions marked as such.
Where it works
- Good for: splitting a decision into assumptions, evidence and counter-cases, leaving the call to you.
- Watch out: ask what evidence would overturn the judgement, or you will only hear supporting reasons.