How to write a Making Effective Decisions statement
A step-by-step guide to writing a strong Making Effective Decisions behaviour statement using the STAR method. Follow these steps, avoid common mistakes, and use the checklist before you submit.
What Making Effective Decisions means
Making Effective Decisions means using evidence, sound judgement, and an understanding of risk to reach timely conclusions. At every grade, assessors want to see that you can weigh options and act decisively.
What assessors look for: Evidence that you gather relevant information, weigh options, consider risks, and make a clear decision — even under pressure or with incomplete information.
Step 1: Choose your example
Pick one specific situation from your work, volunteering, or education. The best examples for Making Effective Decisions often involve:
- Shift supervisor who had to decide whether to close a checkout lane during a staffing shortage.
- A situation where you had to think beyond your immediate responsibilities
- A challenge that required you to using evidence and judgement to make sound decisions quickly.
You do not need a dramatic story. A well-told ordinary example scores better than an extraordinary one told badly. Assessors look for clarity and evidence, not grandeur.
Step 2: Write the Situation (2 sentences)
Set the scene quickly. The assessor needs enough context to understand what was at stake, but not every detail.
For example: "During a busy Saturday shift, two of my six checkout staff called in sick unexpectedly, leaving us with a growing queue and a scheduled delivery due in 30 minutes."
Step 3: Write the Task (1 sentence)
State your specific responsibility. What did you need to achieve?
For example: "I needed to decide how to maintain customer service levels while ensuring the delivery could be received safely."
Step 4: Write the Action (60% of your words)
This is the most important part. Describe what you did, step by step. Use "I" not "we". Be specific about your contribution.
For example: "I quickly assessed the queue length and estimated wait times. I decided to close one self-checkout lane and redeploy that colleague to the main tills, which would clear the queue faster. I also called..."
Spending too long on Situation and not enough on Action. The assessor wants to know what you did, not every detail of the context.
Step 5: Write the Result (1–2 sentences)
End with a clear outcome. Include a number if you can — it makes your result concrete and memorable.
For example: "The queue cleared within 20 minutes. The delivery was received without incident. Customer satisfaction scores for that shift remained at 92%, the same..."
Full example
Here is the complete example, annotated with STAR markers:
[S] During a busy Saturday shift, two of my six checkout staff called in sick unexpectedly, leaving us with a growing queue and a scheduled delivery due in 30 minutes.
[T] I needed to decide how to maintain customer service levels while ensuring the delivery could be received safely.
[A] I quickly assessed the queue length and estimated wait times. I decided to close one self-checkout lane and redeploy that colleague to the main tills, which would clear the queue faster. I also called the delivery driver to confirm a 15-minute delay was acceptable, and arranged for a stockroom colleague to cover the delivery. I communicated the plan to the remaining team, emphasising that customer service was the priority.
[R] The queue cleared within 20 minutes. The delivery was received without incident. Customer satisfaction scores for that shift remained at 92%, the same as our weekly average. My manager later used the incident as a case study in team briefings.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Describing a decision that was made for you by a manager rather than one you made yourself.
- Focusing on the outcome without explaining the reasoning that led to the decision.
- Using the word "decided" without showing what alternatives you considered.
Checklist before you submit
- Is the example specific and real?
- Do I use "I" not "we" in the Action section?
- Is the word count within the limit (check the job advert)?
- Does the Result include a number or measurable outcome?
- Have I adapted this example to focus on Making Effective Decisions, not another behaviour?
- Have I removed filler words and phrases?
- Have I checked for spelling and grammar errors?