# Decision in 15 Minutes

> A time-boxed protocol for taking one real decision in a quarter of an hour: frame, options, criteria, decide, name an owner. Duration: 15 minutes. Group size: 4–20 people. Setting: Hybrid. Below you will find a step-by-step guide, the materials and facilitator tips.

URL: https://bravodays.com/en/team-building-library/decision-in-15-minutes
Last updated: 2026-10-21
Publisher: BravoDays (https://bravodays.com)

## Key facts

- **Duration:** 15 minutes
- **Group size:** 4–20 people
- **Setting:** Hybrid
- **Energy level:** Active
- **Materials:** A visible timer, A whiteboard or flip chart with five boxes: question, options, criteria, decision, owner, Sticky notes and markers
- **Price:** Free, no sign-up

## Objective

Practise a simple, repeatable way to decide quickly without skipping the thinking.

## Materials

- A visible timer
- A whiteboard or flip chart with five boxes: question, options, criteria, decision, owner
- Sticky notes and markers

## Step by step

1. Choose one real, low-to-medium-stakes decision the group needs to take (for example, which of three projects to start first).
2. Minutes 0–3: write the decision as one question and agree who has the final say.
3. Minutes 3–7: list at least two real options, including "do nothing", silently on sticky notes, then group them.
4. Minutes 7–10: agree two or three criteria and quickly rate each option against them.
5. Minutes 10–13: the decision owner decides, saying the main reason and the biggest risk out loud.
6. Minutes 13–15: name the owner, the first step and a date to review the decision.

## Facilitator tips

- Be strict with the timer; the point is to feel how much is possible in 15 minutes.
- Separate "who gives input" from "who decides" at the start, or the discussion will drift.
- Afterwards, ask: what did we skip that we normally spend an hour on?

## Related pages

- [Team building library](https://bravodays.com/en/team-building-library)
- [Get a quote](https://bravodays.com/en/get-a-quote)