Getting a group to decide on something, finally
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This tip is about herding cats, aka, getting a group to decide on something, finally.
One of the most frustrating patterns I see in teams is when everyone’s talking, but no one is deciding.
No one wants to stick their neck out and be on the hook for the decision (not even the boss).
Often, no one knows how a decision will be made.
Without a clear decision-making framework, you get:
Circular conversations
Status plays (who talks longest or loudest)
Analysis paralysis disguised as “good dialogue”
Patrick Lencioni says consensus is a four-letter word. It usually leads to decisions that are too slow, equally dissatisfying for everyone, and probably not the right decision for the situation.
Yes, the best practice is to announce the decision-making process up front (Are we voting? Is there a decider? Are we going around and around and around until we have consensus?).
As helpful as this is, it rarely happens.
So, even if you’re not the person with the most power in the room, you can still raise your hand and ask:
“How are we deciding here?”
That one question redirects attention.
Ask it early. Ask it late. Ask it again if you have to.
You’ll see people stop spinning and start focusing.
An advanced move would be to walk them through a better process, like Geno Wickman’s IDS framework:
Identify the real issue (not just the symptoms) before you…
Discuss solutions—briefly, openly, constructively
Solve it—make a decision and assign the next action
Next time your meeting turns into a tangle of opinions, don’t chase every cat.
Herd the group to a decision.
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