Who This Helps
This is for Team Leads who feel stuck in a cycle of small tests that don't add up. If your team is busy but the big metrics aren't budging, you need a better filter. The method here is straight from the Founder Finance Basics Mission Pack. It turns a messy list of ideas into a clear action plan.
Mini Case
Sam's team had 8 possible experiments for their sign-up flow. They were debating features for a week. Sam used a simple impact/effort score. They scored each idea from 1-5. The winner? Simplifying the pricing page, which scored a 4 on impact but only a 2 on effort. They built it in 3 days. The result? A 15% lift in paid conversions the next month. The other 7 ideas went on a 'later' list. Focus won.
Do This Now (5 Steps)
- Gather the Possibilities. List every experiment idea your team is considering. Get it out of Slack channels and heads and into one doc. Aim for at least 5 options.
- Define Your Two Rules. For your current goal, what does 'Impact' mean? (e.g., 'Likely change in user retention'). What does 'Effort' mean? (e.g., 'Total engineering days'). Keep it simple.
- Score Together, Fast. In a 30-minute huddle, have the team score each idea from 1 (low) to 5 (high) for Impact and Effort. No long debates—gut check is fine.
- Do the Math. Calculate a simple priority score: Impact Score / Effort Score. The idea with the highest number is your target. It's that straightforward.
- Commit & Communicate. Pick the #1 idea. Clearly define the next 3 tasks to start it. Tell the team what you are *not* doing this week. This clarity is a superpower.
Avoid These Traps
- The 'Everything is a 5' Trap. If all ideas seem high-impact, your impact definition is too vague. Tie it to a specific metric you own.
- Analysis Paralysis. Don't spend 2 weeks perfecting scores. The goal is a good decision, not a perfect spreadsheet. A 1-hour process beats a 1-week stall.
- Ignoring Team Gut. If an idea has a middling score but the team is wildly excited about it, explore why. Sometimes energy is its own kind of fuel.
- Forgetting the 'Later' List. Don't just delete the other ideas. Park them in a visible backlog. It calms the fear of losing a good thought.
Your Win by Friday
By Friday, you'll have one prioritized experiment, a clear reason why it's #1, and a team aligned on the first steps. You'll swap endless debate for directed action. You'll feel less like a traffic cop and more like a coach with a game plan. And hey, you might even finish that 3pm coffee while it's still warm.