Decision Assessment Tool

Deciding whether to keep or replace a band member is one of the hardest decisions you'll face. This tool helps you assess the situation objectively and make the right choice.

When to Use This Tool

Use this assessment when:

• Considering removing a member
• Member's performance is concerning
• Relationship issues persist
• Commitment seems questionable
• You're unsure what to do
• Need objective evaluation

This tool helps you:

• Assess situation objectively
• Consider all factors
• Weigh pros and cons
• Make informed decision
• Document your reasoning

Before You Begin

Important Considerations

Have you:

• Addressed issues directly with the member?
• Given clear feedback?
• Provided opportunity to improve?
• Documented concerns?
• Considered your role in the issues?
• Explored all alternatives?

If you answered "no" to any of these, address those first before using this tool.

Decision-Making Mindset

Approach this with:

• Objectivity (not emotion)
• Fairness (to member and band)
• Honesty (with yourself)
• Clarity (about what matters)
• Compassion (for all involved)

Assessment Tool

Part 1: Performance Evaluation

Rate each area (1-5 scale):

• 1 = Significantly below expectations
• 2 = Below expectations
• 3 = Meets expectations
• 4 = Exceeds expectations
• 5 = Significantly exceeds expectations

Musical Performance

Skill Level: Rating: ___/5

Notes:

Preparation: Rating: ___/5

Notes:

Stage Presence: Rating: ___/5

Notes:

Musical Contribution: Rating: ___/5

Notes:

Musical Performance Total: ___/20

Reliability & Commitment

Attendance: Rating: ___/5

Rehearsals attended: /Shows attended: /

Notes:

Punctuality: Rating: ___/5

Notes:

Follow-Through: Rating: ___/5

Notes:

Preparation: Rating: ___/5

Notes:

Reliability & Commitment Total: ___/20

Communication & Teamwork

Responsiveness: Rating: ___/5

Notes:

Collaboration: Rating: ___/5

Notes:

Attitude: Rating: ___/5

Notes:

Conflict Management: Rating: ___/5

Notes:

Communication & Teamwork Total: ___/20

Professionalism

Behavior: Rating: ___/5

Notes:

Representation of Band: Rating: ___/5

Notes:

Accountability: Rating: ___/5

Notes:

Growth Mindset: Rating: ___/5

Notes:

Professionalism Total: ___/20

OVERALL PERFORMANCE SCORE: ___/80

Part 2: Issue Analysis

Current Issues

List all current issues:

For each issue, assess:

Issue 1: _______________

Severity (1-5): ___/5

• 1 = Minor annoyance
• 5 = Critical problem

Impact on band (1-5): ___/5

• 1 = Minimal impact
• 5 = Severe impact

Addressable? (Y/N): ___ If yes, how: _______________

Has it been addressed? (Y/N): ___ If yes, result: _______________

Issue 2: _______________

Severity (1-5): ___/5 Impact on band (1-5): ___/5 Addressable? (Y/N): ___ If yes, how: _______________ Has it been addressed? (Y/N): ___ If yes, result: _______________

Issue 3: _______________

Severity (1-5): ___/5 Impact on band (1-5): ___/5 Addressable? (Y/N): ___ If yes, how: _______________ Has it been addressed? (Y/N): ___ If yes, result: _______________

Issue Summary

Total number of issues: ___

Number of critical issues (severity 4-5): ___

Number of addressable issues: ___

Number of addressed issues: ___

Number of improved issues: ___

Part 3: Improvement Assessment

Has the member shown improvement?

• Yes, significant improvement
• Yes, some improvement
• No change
• Getting worse

Evidence:

Is the member aware of the issues?

• Yes, fully aware
• Somewhat aware
• Not aware

Evidence:

Is the member trying to improve?

• Yes, actively working on it
• Some effort
• No effort
• Defensive/resistant

Evidence:

Have you provided adequate support?

• Yes, extensive support
• Some support
• Minimal support
• No support

What support:

Part 4: Replaceability Analysis

How difficult would it be to replace this member?

Skill Level:

• Very difficult to replace (rare skills)
• Somewhat difficult (good skills)
• Moderate (average skills)
• Easy (common skills)

Availability of Replacements:

• Many qualified candidates available
• Some candidates available
• Few candidates available
• Very few candidates available

Time to Replace:

• Could replace quickly (1-2 weeks)
• Moderate time (1-2 months)
• Significant time (3-6 months)
• Very difficult (6+ months)

Impact of Replacement:

• Minimal disruption
• Some disruption
• Significant disruption
• Major disruption

Cost of Replacement:

• Low (time only)
• Moderate (some financial cost)
• High (significant cost)
• Very high (major cost)

Part 5: Relationship Assessment

Personal Relationships:

Your relationship with this member:

• Strong and positive
• Good
• Neutral
• Strained
• Broken

Other members' relationships with this member:

Member 1: _______________

• Strong and positive
• Good
• Neutral
• Strained
• Broken

Member 2: _______________

• Strong and positive
• Good
• Neutral
• Strained
• Broken

Member 3: _______________

• Strong and positive
• Good
• Neutral
• Strained
• Broken

Overall relationship health:

• Healthy and repairable
• Strained but repairable
• Severely damaged
• Beyond repair

Part 6: Band Impact Analysis

If this member stays:

Positive impacts:

Negative impacts:

Overall impact:

• Net positive
• Neutral
• Net negative

If this member leaves:

Positive impacts:

Negative impacts:

Overall impact:

• Net positive
• Neutral
• Net negative

Part 7: Values Alignment

Does this member align with band's values?

Value 1: _______________

• Strongly aligned
• Somewhat aligned
• Not aligned

Value 2: _______________

• Strongly aligned
• Somewhat aligned
• Not aligned

Value 3: _______________

• Strongly aligned
• Somewhat aligned
• Not aligned

Value 4: _______________

• Strongly aligned
• Somewhat aligned
• Not aligned

Value 5: _______________

• Strongly aligned
• Somewhat aligned
• Not aligned

Overall values alignment:

• Strong alignment
• Moderate alignment
• Weak alignment
• No alignment

Part 8: Decision Factors

Rate importance of each factor (1-5):

Musical skill: ___/5 Reliability: ___/5 Attitude: ___/5 Relationships: ___/5 Values alignment: ___/5 Improvement potential: ___/5 Replaceability: ___/5 Band chemistry: ___/5

Decision Matrix

Scoring Summary

Performance Score: ___/80

Interpretation:

• 65-80: Strong performance
• 50-64: Adequate performance
• 35-49: Below expectations
• Below 35: Significantly below expectations

Issue Severity:

• Critical issues: ___
• Total issues: ___

Interpretation:

• 0 critical issues: Manageable
• 1-2 critical issues: Concerning
• 3+ critical issues: Serious problem

Improvement Trajectory:

• Improving
• Stable
• Declining

Replaceability:

• Easy to replace
• Moderate difficulty
• Difficult to replace
• Very difficult to replace

Relationship Health:

• Healthy
• Repairable
• Damaged
• Beyond repair

Values Alignment:

• Strong
• Moderate
• Weak
• None

Decision Framework

Keep if:

• Performance score above 50
• No critical issues OR critical issues being addressed
• Showing improvement
• Relationships repairable
• Values aligned
• Difficult to replace
• Net positive impact

Consider Keeping with Conditions if:

• Performance score 40-50
• Critical issues but addressable
• Willing to improve
• Relationships strained but repairable
• Some values alignment
• Moderate difficulty to replace
• Could be net positive with changes

Conditions needed:

Timeline for improvement: _______________

Consider Replacing if:

• Performance score below 40
• Multiple critical issues
• No improvement despite support
• Relationships damaged
• Values misaligned
• Easy to replace
• Net negative impact

Replace if:

• Performance score below 30
• Critical issues unaddressable
• Declining despite support
• Relationships beyond repair
• No values alignment
• Significant negative impact
• Safety or legal concerns

Your Decision

Based on this assessment, my decision is:

• Keep (no conditions)
• Keep with conditions
• Replace
• Need more information

Reasoning:

If keeping with conditions:

Conditions:

Timeline: _______________

Check-in date: _______________

If replacing:

Timeline: _______________

Transition plan: _______________

Communication plan: _______________

Next Steps

Immediate actions:

Timeline:

Who needs to be involved:

How to communicate:

Key Takeaways

1. Be objective - Use data, not just emotion
2. Consider all factors - Performance, relationships, values, impact
3. Document everything - Protects everyone
4. Give opportunity to improve - Fair to member
5. Know your values - What matters most?
6. Consider band impact - What's best for band?
7. Make decision and commit - Indecision hurts everyone

This is never an easy decision, but this tool helps you make it thoughtfully and fairly. Trust your assessment and move forward with confidence.