Complete firstDecidable focus
A concrete initiative and a person with decision authority are named.
Different initiatives need separate filters.
Method guideDecision Making
Impact Filter
A practical method guide: clarify prerequisites and materials, understand the complete process, and look up outputs, pitfalls, and stop criteria.
ComplexityLow
Time20-45 min
Participants1-6
FormatWorkshop + async
MaturityEstablished
01
Prerequisite
What needs to be finished first
02
Preparation
What needs to be ready before start
Materials
Worksheet with Project/Focus, Purpose, Importance, Ideal Outcome, Best Result, Worst Result and Success Criteria.
People / roles
Initiator; then delivery owners to align expectations.
Pre-read
Name one initiative; the person holding the outcome intention first creates their own version.
Time needed
About 30 minutes for an individual draft; then alignment
Setup
Complete the filter individually in writing first; then prepare a shared view for outcome alignment.
03
Core question
The one question this method answers
Which impact justifies this initiative and what must be true for it to succeed?
04
Flow
Phases with goal, actions, output and pitfall
Dan Sullivan’s Impact Filter from Strategic Coach clarifies an initiative’s intended impact before starting. Purpose, Importance and Ideal Outcome connect to Best Result, Worst Result and verifiable Success Criteria.
Impact Filter· worksheet
Fictional example
Dan Sullivan’s Impact Filter from Strategic Coach clarifies an initiative’s intended impact before starting. Purpose, Importance and Ideal Outcome connect to Best Result, Worst Result and verifiable Success Criteria.
Project/Focus
Which single initiative is being evaluated? Add name, date and ownership.
Fictional: welcome pack for new instructors by 15 October; initiator Lea.
Purpose
What should this initiative accomplish and what motivates it?
New instructors should be able to prepare their first session independently.
Importance
What meaningful difference will this make, and for whom?
Fewer last-minute questions reduce coordination effort and give instructors confidence.
Ideal Outcome
What does the completed initiative look like?
An accessible pack explains registration, materials and support; two new instructors have successfully used it.
Best Result
What becomes possible if action is taken?
New courses can start without extra individual briefings; coordination gains time for exceptions.
Worst Result
What is at risk if no action is taken?
Inconsistent onboarding persists; missing materials may continue to emerge shortly before sessions.
Success Criteria
Which results must demonstrably exist by when?
By 15 October: pack approved; two pilot users find registration and materials unaided; support contact named; all critical test issues resolved.
All example details are fictional and illustrate the application.
- 1
Purpose, Importance, Ideal Outcome
Purpose, Importance, Ideal Outcome
Goal
Described outcome intention
Inputs for this step
- Initiative
- Reason and affected people
Actions
- For one focus, separately describe purpose, meaningful difference and the completed initiative.
- Name affected people and expected benefits concretely.
Output
Described outcome intention
Are purpose, importance and end state distinguishable?
Quality check
Are purpose, importance and end state distinguishable?
Pitfall
The sheet starts with a task list. Return from activities to the desired result and its importance.
Timing: 10–15 minutes
- 2
Best Result and Worst Result
Best Result and Worst Result
Goal
Explicit stakes of acting
Inputs for this step
- Outcome intention
- Trajectory without initiative
Actions
- Contrast the possible best result from acting with what is at risk if no action is taken.
- Label assumptions and avoid exaggeration.
Output
Explicit stakes of acting
Does the Worst Result address not taking action?
Quality check
Does the Worst Result address not taking action?
Pitfall
Worst Result becomes only a technical risk list. Describe what continues without this initiative; add project risks separately.
Timing: 5–10 minutes
- 3
Define Success Criteria
Define Success Criteria
Goal
Verifiable success criteria
Inputs for this step
- Ideal Outcome
- Constraints
Actions
- Record which concrete results must be true at completion; use numbers, dates or observable states.
- Resolve conflicting criteria and missing acceptance evidence with implementers.
Output
Verifiable success criteria
Can another person verify each criterion clearly?
Quality check
Can another person verify each criterion clearly?
Pitfall
Successful and high-quality replace verifiable criteria. Name an observable result and appropriate evidence.
Timing: 10–15 minutes
- 4
Decide and hand over
Decide and hand over
Goal
Aligned outcome brief or reasoned decline
Inputs for this step
- Filter draft
- Delivery owners
Actions
- Decide whether the initiative earns your own commitment; if proceeding, align the outcome brief with implementers.
- Agree ownership and review date; leave room for solutions within the agreed boundaries.
Output
Aligned outcome brief or reasoned decline
Do initiator and implementers share the same success picture?
Quality check
Do initiator and implementers share the same success picture?
Pitfall
Handover leaves no opportunity for questions. Ask implementers to restate the outcome and open conflicts.
Timing: 5–15 minutes
05
Artifact
What comes out at the end
Sketch: what the artifact looks like
Form
A reasoned outcome brief with six content fields, verifiable success criteria and an explicit proceed-or-decline decision.
Versioning / ownership
Record date and scope; retain the previous version and reason when changing it.
Tool alternatives
- Paper worksheet
- Structured text document
- Shared board for handover alignment
impact-filter-working-template.md
Name one initiative; the person holding the outcome intention first creates their own version.
Impact Filter: Worksheet
Question
To be confirmed
Desired outcome
To be confirmed
Scope
Complete cycle Time: About 30 minutes for an individual draft; then alignment
Complete this worksheet on paper or in your own document during the work.
Preparation for this scope
Method setup
- Materials: Worksheet with Project/Focus, Purpose, Importance, Ideal Outcome, Best Result, Worst Result and Success Criteria.
- Roles: Initiator; then delivery owners to align expectations.
- Advance information: Name one initiative; the person holding the outcome intention first creates their own version.
- Overall time needed: About 30 minutes for an individual draft; then alignment
- Setup: Complete the filter individually in writing first; then prepare a shared view for outcome alignment.
Prepare for the work steps
Purpose, Importance, Ideal Outcome: Purpose, Importance, Ideal Outcome
- Initiative
- Reason and affected people
Best Result and Worst Result: Best Result and Worst Result
- Outcome intention
- Trajectory without initiative
Define Success Criteria: Define Success Criteria
- Ideal Outcome
- Constraints
Decide and hand over: Decide and hand over
- Filter draft
- Delivery owners
Impact Filter· worksheet
Project/Focus
Which single initiative is being evaluated? Add name, date and ownership.
...
Purpose
What should this initiative accomplish and what motivates it?
...
Importance
What meaningful difference will this make, and for whom?
...
Ideal Outcome
What does the completed initiative look like?
...
Best Result
What becomes possible if action is taken?
...
Worst Result
What is at risk if no action is taken?
...
Success Criteria
Which results must demonstrably exist by when?
...
Answer the prompts with your own information. Explicitly mark unknowns and assumptions.
Strategic Coach: The Impact Filter Tool and Guide
Purpose, Importance, Ideal Outcome: Purpose, Importance, Ideal Outcome
Expected artifact: Described outcome intention
Are purpose, importance and end state distinguishable?
Entry:
...
- Are purpose, importance and end state distinguishable?
Best Result and Worst Result: Best Result and Worst Result
Expected artifact: Explicit stakes of acting
Does the Worst Result address not taking action?
Entry:
...
- Does the Worst Result address not taking action?
Define Success Criteria: Define Success Criteria
Expected artifact: Verifiable success criteria
Can another person verify each criterion clearly?
Entry:
...
- Can another person verify each criterion clearly?
Decide and hand over: Decide and hand over
Expected artifact: Aligned outcome brief or reasoned decline
Do initiator and implementers share the same success picture?
Entry:
...
- Do initiator and implementers share the same success picture?
Open questions and next steps
...
Method guide: https://methodatlas.meierhoff-systems.de/en/methods/impact-filter/run-sheet
06
Example output
Concrete filled scenario, fictional example
Fictional example for orientation. Counts and timings describe this case and are not universal requirements.
impact-filter-beispiel.md
Concrete filled scenario, fictional example
Fictional example
Project/Focus: Fictional: welcome pack for new instructors by 15 October; initiator Lea.
Purpose: New instructors should be able to prepare their first session independently.
Importance: Fewer last-minute questions reduce coordination effort and give instructors confidence.
Ideal Outcome: An accessible pack explains registration, materials and support; two new instructors have successfully used it.
Best Result: New courses can start without extra individual briefings; coordination gains time for exceptions.
Worst Result: Inconsistent onboarding persists; missing materials may continue to emerge shortly before sessions.
Success Criteria: By 15 October: pack approved; two pilot users find registration and materials unaided; support contact named; all critical test issues resolved.
07
Pitfalls
Recognize symptoms and steer against them
Quick overview, the full text is in the matching phase in the flow
- Purpose, Importance, Ideal OutcomeThe sheet starts with a task list.View in phase
- Best Result and Worst ResultWorst Result becomes only a technical risk list.View in phase
- Define Success CriteriaSuccessful and high-quality replace verifiable criteria.View in phase
- Decide and hand overHandover leaves no opportunity for questions.View in phase
Trap
Purpose, Importance, Ideal Outcome
Symptom
The sheet starts with a task list.
What to do
Return from activities to the desired result and its importance.
Trap
Best Result and Worst Result
Symptom
Worst Result becomes only a technical risk list.
What to do
Describe what continues without this initiative; add project risks separately.
Trap
Define Success Criteria
Symptom
Successful and high-quality replace verifiable criteria.
What to do
Name an observable result and appropriate evidence.
Trap
Decide and hand over
Symptom
Handover leaves no opportunity for questions.
What to do
Ask implementers to restate the outcome and open conflicts.
08
Stop criteria
When to pause, resolve prerequisites, or choose another approach
If purpose and importance do not convince the initiator, revise or decline the initiative before committing others to delivery.
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