Decide How to Decide

[Kenneth]

The first step in decision-making is to decide and communicate how different types of decisions will be made in the group. Different types of decisions might be made differently. An emergency requires quick action. An action that impacts many and relies on cooperation across a cross-functional team works best with consensus.

Common Decision-Making Options:
1. Leader decides without discussion
2. Leader decides with input
3. Consensus of the group
4. Delegate the decision
5. Negotiate a decision
6. Majority wins

Identifying the types of decisions and how they will be made sets expectations and accountability. Decisions the group participate in build commitment. Soliciting the teams input (and stakeholders when appropriate) helps all voices feel heard.

Offering a process for input keeps decision-making on-track. A useful process is to ask participants level of agreement on a scale from 1 to 5. Be sure to identify how this input will be used upfront, before soliciting the input. Beware of making a decisions in opposition to the prevailing input.

Adapted from Sam Kaner’s Facilitators Guide to Participatory Decision Making

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