– Tools and Tips

Building decision readiness requires deliberate tools and habits. Here are actionable strategies inspired by Webb’s EPD approach:

• Maintain a Live Decision Register: Create a centralized log that lists all pending decisions with their status, responsible decision-maker, and due date. Update it at every meeting. This “single source of truth” means “if no one objects by a set date, a recommendation is enacted”, keeping all stakeholders aligned on timelines.
• One-Pager Briefs: Encourage the team to distill issues into concise summaries. A decision brief should state the problem, options, recommendation, and why it matters. By reducing friction, leaders are more likely to read and respond quickly.
• Regular Decision Review Cadence: Set up weekly or bi-weekly “decision review” meetings. In these, the leader checks the decision register with the team: what needs sign-off soon? Are any items bottlenecked? Having this predictable forum prevents surprises.
• “No Objection” Policy: Adopt a formal policy where recommendations move forward unless formally objected by a deadline. Communicate this widely. Webb calls out that silence in EPD is treated as “passive failure”, urging teams to voice concerns promptly.

By embedding these habits, project managers create a culture where acting is the default. As Webb notes, in an EPD-enabled project: “you know which decisions are coming, you know who will make them, you trust the system to support the call… and most importantly: You move forward — even when it’s hard.” This clarity of process frees teams to focus on delivery rather than bureaucracy.

Over time, decision readiness becomes as routine as any task list, eliminating the costly inertia that plagues many projects.