--- title: These tools transformed my decision-making description: Discover decision-making tools that transform career clarity. Learn two powerful frameworks to navigate ambiguous choices and unlock your professional potential with confidence. image: https://wearedelphi.co/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/photo-1634125939366-bef6e0300eb7.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://wearedelphi.co/blog/p/these-tools-transformed-my-decision-making#main-content) [![Delphi Logo](https://wearedelphi.co/hs-fs/hubfs/Delphi%20Logo.png?width=300&height=83&name=Delphi%20Logo.png)Homepage](https://wearedelphi.co) - For Organisations - For Individuals - [Therapy](https://wearedelphi.co/therapy) - Confidence - [Coaching: Conflict and Communication](https://wearedelphi.co/coaching/conflict-and-communication) - [Coaching: Confidence for Women](https://wearedelphi.co/coaching/confidence-for-women) - Career - [Coaching: Career Change & Contentment](https://wearedelphi.co/coaching/career-contentment) - [Coaching: Interviews](https://wearedelphi.co/coaching/interviews) - [Coaching: Imposter Syndrome 101 & Confidence](https://wearedelphi.co/coaching/imposter-syndrome-101-confidence) - Public Speaking - [Coaching: An Actors Guide to Public Speaking](https://wearedelphi.co/coaching/an-actors-guide-to-public-speaking) - [Coaching: The Art of Storytelling](https://wearedelphi.co/coaching-the-art-of-storytelling) - [Consultant: Producing Theatre](https://wearedelphi.co/consultant/producing-theatre) - More - [Free Resources](https://wearedelphi.co/blog) - [Blog](https://wearedelphi.co/blog) - [About us](https://wearedelphi.co/about-us) [Book a complimentary intro call](https://meet.boomerangapp.com/bex.wearedelphi.co) - For Organisations - For Individuals - [Therapy](https://wearedelphi.co/therapy) - Confidence - [Coaching: Conflict and Communication](https://wearedelphi.co/coaching/conflict-and-communication) - [Coaching: Confidence for Women](https://wearedelphi.co/coaching/confidence-for-women) - Career - [Coaching: Career Change & Contentment](https://wearedelphi.co/coaching/career-contentment) - [Coaching: Interviews](https://wearedelphi.co/coaching/interviews) - [Coaching: Imposter Syndrome 101 & Confidence](https://wearedelphi.co/coaching/imposter-syndrome-101-confidence) - Public Speaking - [Coaching: An Actors Guide to Public Speaking](https://wearedelphi.co/coaching/an-actors-guide-to-public-speaking) - [Coaching: The Art of Storytelling](https://wearedelphi.co/coaching-the-art-of-storytelling) - [Consultant: Producing Theatre](https://wearedelphi.co/consultant/producing-theatre) - More - [Free Resources](https://wearedelphi.co/blog) - [Blog](https://wearedelphi.co/blog) - [About us](https://wearedelphi.co/about-us) [Book a complimentary intro call](https://meet.boomerangapp.com/bex.wearedelphi.co) ![](https://wearedelphi.co/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/photo-1634125939366-bef6e0300eb7.jpg?width=4032&height=3024&name=photo-1634125939366-bef6e0300eb7.jpg) # These tools transformed my decision-making ![Bex Cockayne](https://7528315.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528315/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-cms-elevate-theme_hubspot/elevate/images/avatar-placeholder.jpg?width=48&height=48&name=avatar-placeholder.jpg) Bex Cockayne May 4, 2026   ## These two tools changed how I assessed my career options… Every profession I’ve had from high‑stakes project roles to strategy, consulting, and coaching has taught me something about **how we make decisions**. Not just what choices we make, but *how* we make them. Over time, two frameworks have become foundational in my own thinking and in how I help clients navigate uncertainty: ### **1. The Cone of Possibility: This is a tool to analyse geopolitical decisions using different sources of information** ![](https://wearedelphi.co/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/speculative-design-cone-of-possibilities_FINAL.png) Cone of Possibility **What it is:** This is a way of visualising all the potential futures that extend from now from the most likely and grounded to the wildest and least expected. It’s rooted in foresight and futures‑thinking research, where practitioners map alternative futures not as a single forecast but as a space of possibilities. In futures studies, it’s used to explore and organise assumptions about the future scenarios. rather than to *predict* it. Different segments represent: - **Probable futures**: close extensions of current reality - **Plausible futures**: credible but not guaranteed - **Possible futures**: logically conceivable - **Preferable futures**: desired or strategic outcomes **Why this matters in real decisions:** Instead of narrowing your view to a “most likely” outcome, the cone encourages you to map *multiple credible possibilities* so you avoid tunnel vision and make plans that are robust rather than brittle. ### **2. Minimal Acceptable Outcomes (MAO): What’s the worst you’re willing to accept. This one is for the perfectionists!** ![](https://wearedelphi.co/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/satisficing-26122022.png) **What this tool is:** A *Minimal Acceptable Outcome* (MAO) sometimes described in psychology and decision research as a **decision threshold** is simply the lowest result you’re willing to accept before you’ll take a specific action or choice. It’s closely related to the concept of **satisficing**, first proposed by Herbert A. Simon, where you stop searching once a satisfactory outcome that meets your threshold is found rather than trying to find a perfect one. **Why it matters:** Defining your MAO up front helps you: - Know *when to act* versus when to wait - Reduce analysis paralysis - Avoid chasing unrealistic perfection - Clarify what really *matters* for this choice Unlike maximising which often leads to endless comparison MAO forces clarity on **acceptability**. It gives you a *stop rule*. ## Why I Like These Tools Both tools are ways to make uncertainty *workable*. One expands your view outward (the cone), and one pulls you inward toward a defensible choice (MAO). It helps us manage possibility and reduced perfectionist tendencies. Together, they help you balance **exploration** and **closure**: - See the wide range of what *might* happen - Decide based on what *must* be achieved to move forward ## Want to Apply These to Your Decisions? If you’re facing a big career, product, or strategic choice and want help using these tools to cut through the noise I’ve opened up a **limited number of 1‑on‑1 strategy calls** this month. If you want to know more then book in for your intro call below. 👉 **[Book a call](https://meet.boomerangapp.com/bex.wearedelphi.co?_gl=1*1532s7u*_gcl_au*MzAwNzk4NTQyLjE3NzE5NjYyMTIuMzY5MDMzNzY0LjE3NzU2NjUyODcuMTc3NTY2NTUwNA..*_ga*NTA3MDQ0NDkwLjE3NzE5NjYyMTI.*_ga_EXYNJL9836*czE3NzU2NjUyNzkkbzIyJGcxJHQxNzc1NjY1NTQ3JGo2MCRsMCRoMA..&utm_campaign=these-tools-transformed-my-decision-making&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=delphi-career-coaching.beehiiv.com)** Or forward this email to someone who might benefit!   Until next time, Rebecca [**Book in for an intro call**](https://meet.boomerangapp.com/bex.wearedelphi.co) **Know someone who would benefit from coaching? Them f**orward them this email! [Check out our website here](https://wearedelphi.co/) # That’s it for this week. Keep showing up, keeping on and building something you love. New here? Check out my websites to learn about my coaching and therapy services.   ## Share this post [mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fwearedelphi.co%2Fblog%2Fp%2Fthese-tools-transformed-my-decision-making](mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fwearedelphi.co%2Fblog%2Fp%2Fthese-tools-transformed-my-decision-making) ## Keep reading ### [![](https://wearedelphi.co/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/unnamed.jpg?width=512&height=256&name=unnamed.jpg) life coaching How Internal Family Systems Can Help You Understand Your Relationships](https://wearedelphi.co/blog/how-internal-family-systems-can-help-you-understand-your-relationships) ### [![](https://wearedelphi.co/hs-fs/hubfs/two-young-smiling-students-happily-working-study-project-with-laptop-books-library-university.jpg?width=6158&height=4105&name=two-young-smiling-students-happily-working-study-project-with-laptop-books-library-university.jpg) Monogamy vs Non-Monogamy: What Do They Actually Mean?](https://wearedelphi.co/blog/monogamy-vs-non-monogamy-meaning) - Business - Confidence - Performance - [Blog](https://delphi-newsletter-connection-confidence.beehiiv.com/p/certainty-anxiety) [mailto:bex@wearedelphi.co](mailto:bex@wearedelphi.co) [Privacy Policy](https://wearedelphi.co/privacy-policy) · [Legal](https://wearedelphi.co/terms-and-conditions) We Are Delphi is a trading name of Delphi Coaching Ltd (c/n: 14644182). Registered office address: Suite RA)1, Wood Suite, London, England, E17 ENU. Contact: [bex@wearedelphi.co](mailto:bex@wearedelphi.co) We are Delphi. © 2025 All rights reserved.   ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Bex Cockayne", "url" : "https://wearedelphi.co/blog/author/bex-cockayne" }, "dateModified" : "2026-05-04T16:21:07.562Z", "datePublished" : "2026-05-04T16:20:59.000Z", "headline" : "These tools transformed my decision-making", "image" : [ "https://wearedelphi.co/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/photo-1634125939366-bef6e0300eb7.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://wearedelphi.co/blog/p/these-tools-transformed-my-decision-making", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://wearedelphi.co/hubfs/Logo.png" }, "name" : "We are Delphi" } } ```