MASTER Risk Model - Learning Resources - Situation

Customers

Ask three potential users what problem they’d pay to solve—note which benefit they stress most.

Identify one recurring user question—what does it say about product-market readiness?

Rewrite your core message using only words you’ve heard from real customer feedback.

Talk to your most enthusiastic supporter—note what they consistently praise in your offer.

Check the top exit page on your site—what might confuse or frustrate visitors?

Compare user satisfaction across groups—who’s happiest, and why?

Think of a moment when a user said, “This is what I needed”—what was unique in that delivery?

Reflect on your last failed pitch—what didn’t land, and was that prospect the right fit?

What hidden assumptions guide your view of customer needs or buying habits?

When did a user insight surprise you—and what did you do with it?

How often do you ask about their future goals, not just current needs?

Which user voices get ignored most—silent churners, small buyers, or testers?

Interview three prospects about their biggest pain points—don’t pitch, just listen deeply.

Draft an empathy map for your target user using only real input gathered last month.

Run a “Why choose us?” survey with five recent testers—capture their real answers.

Call a past user who left—ask why they stopped and what would bring them back.

Record a one-minute demo showing your product from a user’s perspective.

Review your onboarding process—try it yourself or watch a new user attempt it.

Ask a prospect: “If you recommended us to a peer, what would you say?”—write their exact words.

Send a thank-you note and a 2-question form to five testers—what’s clear, what’s confusing?

Ask five users: “Which features excite you—and which frustrate you most?”

Ask a loyal tester what made them trust you initially and what keeps them.

Share three possible headlines with a user—ask which one feels most relevant.

Ask a user: “How would you explain this product to someone in your field?”

Shift from “I serve everyone” to “Here’s my best-fit user and why they care.”

Change “I have many features” to “I solve this exact pain in this way.”

Reframe complaints as signals—what opportunity hides behind frustration?

Replace “I want more buyers” with “I want deeper value for the right buyers.”

Stop asking “What do you need?” and ask “What outcome do you want?”

Instead of “churn = price,” explore what outcome they didn’t achieve.

Read user feedback posts—what phrases repeat in the most positive responses?

Watch demo recordings—note where users light up or look confused.

Track which email intros earn the best replies—what language drove interest?

Observe how long users take from signup to first success—what causes delay?

Pay attention to onboarding questions—what aren’t users understanding?

Listen for vagueness in discovery calls—what truths aren’t voiced?

Employees

Ask a collaborator what helps them stay motivated—see what patterns you can reinforce.

Review your last update to a collaborator—was it clear, relevant, and energizing for them?

Update one collaboration ritual (check-in, sync) to make it more energizing and outcome-focused.

Identify one decision you made last week—did you explain the why clearly to collaborators?

Scan your last five messages—how often do you show appreciation or encouragement?

Run a quick anonymous poll with collaborators—how supported do they feel?

Reflect on a time when collaborators felt energized—what created that environment?

When did someone in your circle surprise you with initiative—what made it possible?

Think about your last tough exchange—did you allow space for their perspective?

What assumptions do you hold about what drives your team—and are they accurate?

When have you blocked someone’s initiative—how might you have acted differently?

Do you reserve time for your own growth—not just tasks? What blocks it?

Ask two collaborators what would make teamwork easier—don’t explain, just note themes.

Shadow a collaborator for thirty minutes—observe how they really handle the work.

Arrange a feedback swap with a peer—exchange notes on how you collaborate.

Give recognition today—name the behavior and explain its impact clearly.

Facilitate a quick session where each person shares one blocker and one enabler.

Re-delegate a task you hold too tightly—observe how others manage it.

Ask a collaborator: “What’s one thing I could stop, start, or continue to better support you?”

Run a quick pulse check: “On a scale of 1–10, how connected do you feel to our mission now?”

Ask each collaborator to share their personal quarter goal—compare to your venture’s goals.

Ask someone outside your team: “How do you see our project contributing overall?”

Ask someone junior to speak first in your next check-in—observe the shift.

Ask another founder how they build team trust—what practice could you try?

Shift from “managing output” to “unlocking creativity”—how does that change your approach?

Reframe low motivation not as laziness, but as misalignment of energy and role.

Instead of “they won’t step up,” ask “what clarity or safety is missing for them?”

Replace “I must push info” with “I must build two-way dialogue.”

View pushback as care—what values or fears are underneath resistance?

Instead of “check-ins,” see 1:1s as “co-designing success.”

Watch who contributes most (or least) in team calls—what shapes that behavior?

Pay attention to how collaborators react to feedback—defensive, curious, or checked out?

Notice what energizes or drains you during the week—are key tasks aligned with strengths?

Track how often collaborators act without prompting—what conditions spark it?

Observe casual chats—what topics spark energy or drain it?

Notice how collaborators introduce each other—what traits do they emphasize?

Partnerships

List your top three contacts—write down one mutual goal you haven’t yet explored with them.

Review your last outreach email—does it clearly show what’s in it for the partner?

Schedule one casual call with a contact—no agenda, just strengthen the relationship.

Identify one partner deliverable that’s delayed—clarify ownership and unblock it today.

Update your pitch to highlight shared outcomes, not just your product.

Scan past contacts—identify one you could reconnect with using a fresh angle.

Think of your most promising collaboration—what made it valuable beyond short-term results?

When have you invested energy in a partner who gave little back—what did you learn?

How aligned are your current allies with your direction today—not just last year?

What assumptions guide your sense of partner value—are they still valid?

Recall when trust eroded with a collaborator—what early signs did you miss?

Do your alliances energize or drain you? What’s the pattern?

Ask one contact what you could change to be a more reliable early-stage partner.

Map the lifecycle of one partnership—note where energy rises, falls, or stalls.

Pitch a co-branded idea to a contact—focus on joint benefit, not exposure alone.

Send a “success recap” to a collaborator—remind them of wins and suggest next steps.

Write down shared risks in one collaboration—clarify what success requires.

Create a shared tracker with one partner—transparency builds reliability.

Ask a partner: “What’s one thing we do better than others you’ve worked with?”

Ask someone on your team who works with a partner—what frictions or strengths do they see?

Share your partner deck with a neutral peer—what feels credible, and what feels vague?

Run a mini-feedback loop with two partners: “What’s one win and one wish so far?”

Ask a partner: “What’s a project you’ve wanted to try but lacked the right collaborator?”

Check in with a partner’s junior contact—how do they see the collaboration?

Reframe from “leveraging contacts” to “building joint capability”—what mindset shifts?

View partnership slowdowns not as setbacks, but as prompts to reset value.

Shift from “What do I need from them?” to “What problem are we solving together?”

Instead of “It’s their fault,” ask “Where did I over-assume or miscommunicate?”

Reframe small collaborations as labs—safe places to test new ideas.

Replace “They’re not responsive” with “Have I earned their urgency?”

Notice which collaborations spark new inbound leads—what signals real traction?

Observe how fast partners reply—what does speed say about commitment?

Track which collaborations lead to referrals—what common signals stand out?

Monitor how often you highlight partner wins internally—are they really integrated?

Watch for misaligned language—do you and partners describe the work the same way?

Listen for vague answers in partner talks—where is trust or clarity missing?

MASTER Risk Hub