The SOS Model

Evaluate your decisions from three vital perspectives

When you’re under pressure and need to make a decision, it’s easy to get stuck in your own head - or pulled in a dozen different directions by competing priorities. The SOS model helps you pause, zoom out, and evaluate your decision from three vital perspectives:

Self – What’s the personal impact of this decision? What will it cost or give you in terms of energy, values, reputation, wellbeing?

Others – Who else will be affected? How might your team, peers or key stakeholders experience the ripple effects?

System – What does this decision mean for the bigger picture - team dynamics, workflow, culture, processes, or long-term outcomes?

When’s the best time to use this tool?

When you're making a tough call under pressure

When you feel stuck or conflicted

To assess the wider impact of a proposed change

When you’re facing competing interests or unclear priorities

How to use:

Step 01: Grab a pen and paper (or a digital doc).

Step 02: Write your decision or dilemma at the top.

Step 03: Create three columns: Self, Others, System.

In each column, ask yourself:

What are the short and long-term impacts?
What assumptions am I making?
What needs, tensions, or values are at play?

Step 04: Look for insights or trade-offs. What becomes clearer when you see the full picture?

Why we love it:

The SOS model is a deceptively simple decision-making lens that invites a holistic view. It balances short- and long-term thinking, surfaces assumptions, and broadens your field of awareness - without drowning you in complexity.

Key Takeaway

Good decisions consider more than just what’s easiest or fastest - they balance personal needs, people impact, and systemic consequences.

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