Free Decision Log Template (Excel + Google Sheets)
What's in the decision log template
The Simple Log tab covers Decision ID, Category, Decision, Responsible Party, Decision Date and Status across 100 rows - enough for a project's or team's full decision history.
The Extended Log tab is for decisions that need a documented trail: it adds Rationale, Impact / Outcome, Decision Maker, Stakeholders Consulted, and a Follow-up Action with its own due date, alongside the same Decision ID and Status fields.
Status (Proposed / Approved / Implemented / Rejected) is a dropdown on both tabs, and each status gets its own conditional-formatting color - green for Approved, red for Rejected, amber for Proposed - so you can scan a long log at a glance.
Simple log or extended log - which should you use
Use the Simple Log for everyday team decisions where a one-line record (what was decided, by whom, when, current status) is enough.
Switch to the Extended Log when a decision needs to survive an audit, a stakeholder review, or a retro - the rationale and impact fields capture why the call was made and what happened as a result, and the follow-up fields make sure any resulting action doesn't get lost.
Counting decisions by status
Underneath the Simple Log, four counters tally how many decisions currently sit in each status (Proposed, Approved, Implemented, Rejected), calculated with COUNTIF so the totals update the moment you change a status cell.
That gives you an instant read on how many open decisions are still pending versus already implemented, without building a pivot table.
How to use it
- For quick logging, use the Simple Log sheet: ID, category, decision, responsible party, date and status.
- For decisions that need a fuller record, use the Extended Log sheet and fill in rationale, impact/outcome, decision maker and stakeholders consulted.
- Update Status as decisions move forward - the counters below the Simple Log and the color coding update automatically.
Download the free Free Decision Log Template (Excel + Google Sheets)
No spam — template updates and new free templates only. Unsubscribe anytime.
CRM & Sales Pipeline Tracker
Tracking decisions tied to deals? The paid CRM & Sales Pipeline Tracker ($14) tracks 300 deals with stage-to-stage conversion and a 3-scenario forecast.
See the full versionFrequently asked questions
What's the difference between the Simple Log and the Extended Log?
The Simple Log has 7 fields (ID, category, decision, responsible party, date, status, comments) for quick entries. The Extended Log adds rationale, impact/outcome, decision maker, stakeholders consulted, and a follow-up action with due date, for decisions that need a fuller documented trail.
Does the Status dropdown have color coding?
Yes. Approved highlights green, Rejected highlights red, and Proposed highlights amber, automatically, on both the Simple Log and Extended Log tabs.
Do I need to sign up to download this?
No. It's a direct .xlsx download with no email or trial signup.
Can I use this in Google Sheets?
Yes. Upload the file to Google Drive and choose File > Save as Google Sheets - the dropdowns, conditional formatting and counters keep working.
How many decisions can I log?
Each tab has 100 rows. Copy the formulas in the Status-count formulas down further rows if you need more.