Game Diagnosis Worksheet

How to use this worksheet

This worksheet is for the moment before the emotional reaction takes over. The goal is not to theorize forever. It is to name the structure clearly enough that the next move becomes obvious.

1. Name the visible symptom in one sentence.
2. Map the players and what each side wants.
3. Identify what is hidden, rewarded, or repeating.
4. Choose the smallest structural fix and make it a default if it works.

When to run it

Run the worksheet when a freelance problem feels bigger than the message in front of you. Good triggers include repeated scope creep, a lead that keeps demanding free strategy, a client delaying payment, a project that always needs one more revision, or a workload that keeps becoming “temporarily” unsustainable.

The worksheet turns the problem from “What should I say?” into “What is this situation rewarding?” That distinction matters. A better reply may solve today. A better rule solves the repeat pattern.

How to interpret the answers

• If the same symptom repeats, look upstream: scope, payment terms, discovery, or expectations.
• If one side has hidden information, add a question, milestone, or paid diagnostic.
• If bad behavior is cheap, add cost: a pause rule, change request, fee, or clean no.
• If good behavior is hard, reduce friction: templates, defaults, deadlines, or single owners.

Example diagnosis

Use with

• Freelance Health Check
• Freelancing is game theory
• Client signaling and screening
• Outside options and negotiation
• Freelance contracts: the clauses that matter

FAQ

How detailed should I get?

Only detailed enough to change your next move. If the worksheet becomes procrastination, stop and act.

Can I use this for workload problems too?

Yes. Burnout and overload get clearer when you map incentives, commitments, and concentration.