MASTER Risk Model - Learning Resources - Situation

Financial

Review your last three major expenses—identify one that could be reduced or renegotiated quickly.

List all active departmental subscriptions—cancel or downgrade one that’s not aligned.

Create a simple one-month budget forecast—include fixed and flexible departmental expenses.

Set a weekly reminder to review cash flow or budget status—even a five-minute check helps.

Reallocate 10% of discretionary spend to the most impactful initiative this week.

Set a simple reserve target for your department’s quarterly budget.

When have you made your best budget decision? What mindset or process supported it?

Think of a time when financial pressure forced innovation—what was the outcome?

What’s one expense you justify emotionally—does it truly deliver equal value?

Reflect on when budget delays disrupted execution—was it planning, communication, or access?

Are you clearer on costs than returns—or vice versa? How does that shape choices?

What’s your default reaction to financial risk—freeze, cut, or reframe?

Categorize all current spending into must-have, nice-to-have, and waste—act on one item.

Create a one-page budget summary to share with your team—build clarity and alignment.

Ask someone with finance expertise to review your latest budget for blind spots.

Build a scenario plan: what would you cut first if your budget dropped by 25%?

Run a value-for-money test: is ROI clear for each major spend?

Track every expense for seven days—even small ones—and reflect on trends.

Ask finance: “Which part of our budget creates the most concern for you right now?”

Present your budget summary to a peer lead and ask: “What feels missing or unclear?”

Ask a stakeholder: “Where do you think we’re over-investing or under-investing?”

Share your budget rationale with a junior staff member—can they explain it back?

Ask your team: “What’s one expense we maintain that feels misaligned with goals?”

Run a team survey: “If you could reallocate 10% of our budget, where would it go?”

Reframe budgeting from “cutting limits” to “fueling what matters most in our department.”

Shift from “we can’t afford this” to “how could we afford it if it matters?”

Instead of broad cuts, ask “what are we protecting with this spend?”

Recast financial risk as a signal, not a fear—what deserves deeper review?

Replace “we always fund this” with “does this still serve top priorities?”

Reframe financial talks from fear to clarity—what knowledge do we need to decide well?

Notice which budget lines regularly overrun—what patterns drive the overspend?

Track approval bottlenecks—does funding flow when it’s needed, or stall?

Watch how leaders react in financial reviews—who engages, who avoids?

Monitor how funding shifts affect morale—what do tight vs. generous budgets signal?

Check if team members know budget limits—does unclear guidance cause waste or caution?

Review old budget requests—were the strongest always funded? If not, why?

Technological

List all platforms your team uses—highlight one underused or outdated tool to replace or retire.

Clean up your shared digital workspace—archive files or tools that no longer add value.

Host a short tutorial for a tool your employees struggle to use effectively.

Identify one manual task the team could automate with existing software—start implementation.

Activate one overlooked feature in a tool your team already uses.

Review your software list—cancel or consolidate overlapping platforms.

When did technology last help your team save real time or stress—what made it work?

Which tools do you avoid using—and is the barrier complexity, trust, or relevance?

How confident are you in your team’s digital skills—where are the biggest gaps?

What’s your usual approach to adopting new tools—early, cautious, or resistant?

When have you outgrown a digital system—did you notice early or too late?

Think of a recent tool rollout—what worked well, and what caused issues?

Run a side-by-side test: compare two systems for one task—evaluate productivity and clarity.

Facilitate a 30-minute “tool swap” where team members teach each other shortcuts or tips.

Create a simple FAQ or cheat sheet for a recurring workflow to reduce confusion.

Audit your digital stack—does each tool still serve a clear purpose for your department?

Introduce a lightweight dashboard to monitor tool usage or project progress.

Block 45 minutes to practice advanced features of a key platform using real data.

Ask your team: “Which tool helps you most—and which one slows you down?”

Ask your team to rank the most and least useful tools—discuss why.

Share your top three digital frustrations—ask peers for tool suggestions.

Present a workflow to a peer—ask where they’d integrate automation or smarter tools.

Ask IT: “Where are we over-engineered or under-optimized?”

Run a retro on recent tool use: what worked, what failed, what’s missing?

Reframe tools not as “costs” but as multipliers—what performance are they enabling?

Instead of “the system is too complex,” ask “have we set it up for our real workflows?”

Shift from “buying new software” to “are we maximizing what we already have?”

Reframe tech resistance as feedback—what setup or training needs simplification?

Replace “this tool slows us down” with “what behavior is this tool shaping?”

Frame each system as a partner—not just a tool but a way of working.

Track how long common tasks take in core tools—where is friction highest?

Observe where tool use drops off—are staff bypassing features or reverting to manual?

Notice how often staff request tech support—where does onboarding fall short?

Monitor whether tools are used proactively or reactively—do they guide or just record?

Watch for duplicate data entry—could integrations reduce it?

Pay attention to team tech habits—are workarounds undermining intended use?

Physical

Check your workspace or meeting areas—make one small change today to improve focus or comfort.

Take stock of office supplies or shared assets—remove or donate anything unused recently.

Identify one piece of equipment that slows your team down—upgrade, fix, or replace it.

Label or organize shared resources to reduce confusion and speed access for everyone.

Reset and tidy your department’s shared workspace—note how it affects tomorrow’s start.

Post clear signage or guides near shared resources to improve access and reduce confusion.

When does your physical environment help your team perform—and when does it hold them back?

What shared resource do you take for granted—but would notice instantly if it disappeared?

Which spaces feel energizing for your team—and which drain motivation?

When have delays or errors come from lack of proper equipment or setup?

Are physical resources aligned with your department’s true priorities and workflow?

What’s the most neglected physical asset in your area—and what does that reveal?

Walk through your team’s shared workspace and document friction points in flow, access, or setup.

Create a basic maintenance or restock plan for high-use equipment or shared resources.

Assign a clear owner for each shared asset—who maintains, restocks, or troubleshoots it?

Hold a 20-minute team session to identify one improvement for the shared space.

Use one physical resource differently this week—explore a new or expanded use case.

Lead a clean-up sprint for a cluttered space—invite your team to co-design improvements.

Ask your staff: “What’s one thing about our workspace setup that reduces productivity?”

Ask a colleague from another unit: “What shared resource do you rely on most, and why?”

Run a poll on which shared space needs improvement—brainstorm a quick win.

Invite a new hire to walk through your space—what feels unclear or inefficient?

Present your workspace setup to a peer—ask how they’d optimize it.

Ask facilities staff: “What issues in our space do you notice that we might overlook?”

Reframe your space from “good enough” to “a tool that drives team focus and behavior.”

Instead of “we’ve always used it this way,” ask “what’s the best use of this space now?”

See clutter not as mess, but as backlog of unowned decisions.

Shift from “we need more space” to “are we using current space to its fullest?”

View disrepair not as cost, but as evidence of how the team values its tools.

Frame physical resources as enablers of flow and focus—not just overhead.

Watch how often staff move or wait due to poor layout or missing resources.

Track how often key equipment sits idle—does usage reflect its importance?

Observe where noise or clutter interferes with focus or communication.

Monitor wear and tear on assets—what does it show about care or usage levels?

Notice how often supply or equipment issues interrupt workflows—where’s the gap?

Pay attention to how physical setup influences mood, collaboration, and energy.

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