Decision Brief template

Bring the proposal, alternatives, and important questions together so directors have a clearer basis for discussion.

Adaptable template
Editable Word
Free for boards and their staff

When this helps

The papers are substantial, but the choice is still hard to see.

A long board packet can leave directors with very different understandings of what they are being asked to approve. This editable brief helps the chair, chief executive, and proposal owner put the decision itself at the center of the conversation.

What’s inside

Give the decision a shape people can discuss.

01
The choice and the alternatives
Set out the recommendation, the contribution it would make, and the other credible courses—including waiting.
02
The questions behind the recommendation
Use Strategy, Oversight, Accountability, and Risk to surface assumptions, missing evidence, authority, and conditions.
03
A record of the decision
Capture what the board actually agreed, the reasons that mattered, and what needs to happen next.

Putting it to work

Start with the choice in front of the board.

Bring the proposal into view
Ask the person closest to the proposal to set out the choice, the reasons for it, and the alternatives worth considering.
Read it from the board’s side
The chair or chief executive can use the SOAR prompts to notice what directors may still need to understand.
Keep the decision connected to the work
After the meeting, capture what was agreed and what happens next. Connect the record to the approved minutes.

Download the template

Make the choice easier to see.

Use the editable brief to bring the proposal and the questions it raises into the same conversation. Adapt the space and headings to your decision.

A practical starting point for your board
Free for boards and their staff