Expand your decision net to find paths you never imagined

In a midsize advertising agency, account director Maya faced a dilemma: Should she accept a promotion that demanded long hours at the office, or maintain her current title that allowed her to coach her daughter’s soccer team on weekends? She found herself replaying pros and cons in her head, feeling torn and frustrated by the lack of a clear answer. One morning, after a sleepless night, she forced herself to list the two options on a whiteboard in her home office. Her eyes fell on the empty space beside them, and she realized she hadn’t considered the possibility of job sharing: Could she split the new role with a colleague and alternate weeks? Inspired, she picked up the phone and pitched the idea to her boss. He paused, then agreed it could boost team morale and learning by having two perspectives.

Suddenly Maya’s indecision vanished. She and her colleague mapped out how a job-share schedule would work, ensuring project continuity. The agency rolled out the plan as a pilot, and not only did Maya gain leadership experience without missing every Saturday game, but the agency discovered it had unlocked talent in her partner as well. By expanding her mental net beyond “Option A or Option B,” Maya uncovered a win-win solution. This shift in mindset reflects the principle of widening your options—recognizing that challenging your frame often reveals solutions you didn’t know you were missing.

When you’re stuck between two choices, begin by writing down those default options so you can see how your mental spotlight is shining. Then deliberately banish them for a moment—ask what you’d do if neither option existed—and brainstorm that third choice. Pick one fresh idea and test it out or sketch how it could work in your real situation. Finally, share your sketch with someone outside the dilemma for a quick sense-check. Give it a try today.