Decisions. Decisions. The team has narrowed the list of potential options to solve a difficult challenge to a manageable few, but eventually a final decision must be made. Which choice does the team move forward with?
In this episode of Behind the Curtain: Adventures in Continuous Improvement, podcast co-hosts Professor Mohamed Saleh and John Dyer continue their discussion into team success with an emphasis on the various methods available to make decisions as a team. One technique draws a strong warning.
Among the options they discuss are:
Consensus: Dyer and Saleh suggest that reaching a consensus is the “most desirable” way to decide. In a consensus, the team agrees on a path forward, even if the choice is not each individual’s No. 1 or No. 2 selection. “I can still live with it. I can get behind it,” Dyer says. “Every member of the team gets behind the decision, even though it may not be their first choice.”
Autocratic: In this scenario, the team isn’t really making the decision at all; instead, it is providing input, but a leader makes the final decision. Be clear about this method at the start or be prepared for a lot of team frustration later, Dyer and Saleh say.
Voting: This is the "absolute worst way" to make a final decision, according to Dyer. "The moment you have winners and losers on the team, the team is no longer a team. It's two sub groups that are now in the same room, one of which hates the other."
Nevertheless, it is a commonly used approach, especially at the higher levels, noted Saleh with a pointed message toward leaders. "If you're a leader listening to this, and you have a team that reports to you—splitting the team is catastrophic."
The two experts explore the pros and cons of three additional methodologies: flip a coin, agree to disagree, and 100% agreement.
