The SHARP Method™ for Decision-Making Under Pressure
A five-step framework created by Dr. Chigozirim “Chigo” Ekeke.
What does SHARP stand for?
S, Scan (Survey): Read the field before anything moves. Take in the whole situation, including the people, the tools, and what has changed.
H, Halt (Pause): Pause before you act. A deliberate stop helps a team move from reacting to responding.
A, Assess (Evaluate): Look at the facts, the risks, and what you have to work with.
R, Respond (Execute): Act with a clear, shared plan that everyone hears out loud.
P, Perfect (Refine): Review, improve, repeat. Debrief afterward and carry what you learned into the next decision.
Why the SHARP Method™ works?
SHARP™ is built on four ideas that surgeons and other high-stakes teams already rely on: situational awareness, deliberate thinking, shared communication, and continuous improvement. It gives teams a common language for those habits, so they hold up when the pressure is highest. SHARP is a practical framework drawn from the operating room.
Applications in healthcare and business
Clinical teams: an unexpected finding mid-operation, adopting a new technique, or a handoff under time pressure.
Executive leaders: translating innovation to adoption, or making a decision with incomplete information.
High-performing teams: any group that needs to decide together and debrief honestly afterward.
About the creator
The SHARP Method™ for Decision-Making Under Pressure was created by Dr. Chigozirim “Chigo” Ekeke, a thoracic surgeon and founder of Sharp Under Pressure. The framework draws on lessons from surgical practice to help healthcare professionals and business leaders approach high-stakes decisions with clarity, discipline, and purpose.
