Compliant mechanisms are mechanical devices that obtain some or all of its motion from deflection of compliant segments. The problem demands rigorous mechanics for design and analysis of compliant mechanisms. On the contrary, pseudo-rigid-body model (PRBM) approach provides a straightforward method for the design and analysis of compliant mechanisms that builds on the techniques developed for rigid-body synthesis and analysis. The ease of application of the approach, however, is dependent on the application of the correct pseudo-rigid-body model for a given fully- or partially-compliant mechanism. This research effort addressed this hitherto heuristic evaluation and provided a straightforward and stepwise approach for determining the applicable pseudo-rigid-body model for a given compliant mechanism subjected to a set of deflection and/or load boundary conditions. The approach utilizes the principle of minimum potential energy in conjunction with the degrees of freedom analysis to determine the applicable static mode shape of the compliant mechanism, and thus the applicable PRBM.