WRAP Decision Process (Heath Brothers)

A four-step decision process designed to counteract the four most common decision-making biases, developed by Chip and Dan Heath. W — Widen Your Options: Overcome narrow framing by generating more alternatives. Ask 'What would I do if this option disappeared?' Use the vanishing options test. Look at what others in similar situations have done. R — Reality-Test Your Assumptions: Overcome confirmation bias by seeking disconfirming evidence. Ask 'What would have to be true for this option to be the wrong choice?' Run small experiments before committing. Find someone who has already made this decision and ask what they learned. A — Attain Distance Before Deciding: Overcome short-term emotion by shifting perspective. Use 10-10-10. Ask 'What would I tell my best friend to do?' Identify and honor your core priorities. P — Prepare to Be Wrong: Overcome overconfidence by planning for multiple futures. Set tripwires (pre-defined conditions that trigger reevaluation). Build in a 'safe-to-fail' test period. Establish bookend predictions (best case and worst case).

When to use it

Any significant decision where you want a structured process. Career decisions, business strategy, major purchases, organizational changes. Especially valuable when you notice yourself stuck in an either/or frame ('Should I stay or go?') — the W step will almost certainly reveal additional options.

How it can help

The most comprehensive single-framework approach to debiased decision-making. Each step directly counteracts a specific, well-documented cognitive bias (narrow framing, confirmation bias, short-term emotion, overconfidence). The 'vanishing options test' alone is worth the framework — it consistently reveals that perceived either/or choices actually have hidden alternatives. Provides concrete tools at each step, not just principles.