---
slug: chair-the-decision
title: Chair the decision
summary: Frame the question, hear the room, leave with a decision owned.
roles: [director, head of, vp, executive, coo, cto, leadership]
kinds: [workshop, briefing, status]
after: []
author: sidekick
version: 3
license: CC-BY-4.0
---

## Lens
When you chair a group decision, the room decides better when it hears everyone before it hears you. Influence 4+
means you framed the question and how it will be decided, and gave your own view last. Inquiry 4+ means asking each
person for what only they know. Pushback 4+ means an assumption tested with evidence, not a louder opinion. Closing
4+ means the decision stated back with an owner and a date. "Let's take it offline" is Closing 1.

## Focus tracks
- Question first: states the question and how it will be decided before giving a view (Influence)
- Hear them first: asks each person for what only they know before the room converges (Inquiry)
- Test the assumption: names the assumption behind a claim and asks for the evidence (Pushback)
- State the decision back: restates the decision with owner and date (Closing)

## Path
- [ ] Land your view in 3 leadership meetings  `skill:influence >= 4 x3 kind:workshop|briefing|status`
- [ ] A frame the room adopted  `moments:brilliant x1 skill:influence`
- [ ] An assumption challenged with evidence  `moments:great x1 skill:pushback kind:workshop|briefing`
- [ ] Three decisions stated back with owner and date  `skill:closing >= 4 x3 kind:workshop|status`
- [ ] Influence Proficient  `level:influence >= 60`

## Achievements
- `view_first` · Question first · `moments:great x5 skill:influence kind:workshop|briefing|status` · Five times you framed the decision before giving your view
- `room_changed_mind` · The room changed its mind · `moments:brilliant x3 skill:influence` · Three times the room took up a frame and reused it
- `tested_it` · Tested it · `moments:great x3 skill:pushback kind:workshop|briefing` · Three assumptions challenged with evidence
- `decision_owned` · Decision owned · `skill:closing >= 4 x5 kind:workshop|status` · Five rounds that ended with a decision, an owner and a date
- `big_table` · Big table · `skill:influence >= 4 x3 attendees>=6` · Three rounds with six or more at the table that reached a decision you framed

## Drills
- A peer director: "I think we should wait a quarter and see how the market moves." (Influence)
- Your CEO: "Everyone agrees this is the right call, yes?" (Pushback)
- A quiet team lead, after the debate: "I had a concern, but it's fine, go ahead." (Inquiry)
- The group: "Good discussion. Let's take it offline." (Closing)
- Your CEO: "What would you do if it were your money?" (Influence)
- A peer: "That's a strong claim. Where's the evidence?" (Composure)