In those moments when you’re struggling to make a choice, a decision matrix is the tool you need to identify the best way forward.

What do you do when you have an important decision on your plate?

Do you turn to that always reliable list of pros and cons?

Do you flip a coin?

Ask a Magic 8-Ball?

Pick a number between one and ten?

Put your decision off and silently hope that someone else eventually makes it for you?

To boil it all down, a decision matrix is a table that helps you to visualize a clear winner between your different options.

To create the matrix, you determine what criteria matters in making your final decision and then also assign a weight to each piece of criteria. This allows you to prioritize what factors matter most and, as a result, mathematically identify which of your options is the best one.

Is your head spinning?

Did you see the word “mathematically” and immediately write this off as a tool that’s too complex for you? Don’t worry—an example will add a lot of clarity.