If you’ve ever been in a meeting where one person dominates the conversation, and the rest of the team just nods along, you know how frustrating it can be to not have your voice heard and your ideas considered.
Collaborative decision making can fix that problem and bring out the best in your team, helping build stronger relationships with your direct reports.
Indeed, relational leaders are far more effective in guiding large teams to success. Collaborative decision-making is one key part of that journey.
With so much at stake in today’s business world, it’s crucial to make the right call, yet one of the most common mistakes is to rely solely on the expertise of a select few individuals.
The truth is, when it comes to decision-making, the more heads involved, the better. That’s where collaborative decision making comes in.
Collaborative decision making is a process in which a group of individuals work together to make a decision, utilizing the knowledge and skills of all team members.
The benefits of this approach are undeniable, from improved problem-solving to increased innovation, enhanced teamwork, and increased employee engagement and motivation.
In this article, we’ll dive deeper into the advantages of collaborative decision making and explore how you can foster a culture of collaboration within your organization.
Benefits of collaborative decision making
Improved problem-solving
By involving multiple perspectives in the decision-making process, you can uncover hidden solutions and address problems more effectively
For example, the Apollo 13 mission, launched April 11, 1970, was intended to be the third mission to land humans on the moon.
However, a catastrophic explosion in the ship’s oxygen tanks of oxygen tank number two occurred 56 hours into the mission, leading to a dramatic battle against time and the elements to bring the crew of the spacecraft safely home.
Mission control, the crew, and teams of engineers worked around the clock to adapt the lunar module, originally intended as a lander, so that it could serve as a “lifeboat.”
This problem was eventually solved through a collaborative effort.
By bringing together a diverse team of individuals from different backgrounds, with different expertise and points of view, mission control was able to conceive a solution that would have been impossible had it been up to one person alone.
The lives of the astronauts were saved and what could have been a horrible disaster was averted.
Increased innovation
Diverse perspectives and ideas lead to more creativity, resulting in more innovative solutions.
By bringing people together and creating an environment of open communication, collaboration encourages new ideas and the exploration of different solutions.
For example, the successful launch of the International Space Station (ISS) was the result of a collaborative effort between 16 different countries from all over the world.
Employees from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds worked together to create a unique design, identify solutions, and develop the necessary technology to make the project a reality.
This has become one of the greatest examples of collaborative work across nations and also a shining example of innovation for modern space exploration.
Furthermore, a sense of psychological safety encourages experimentation and risk-taking.
Having many voices at the table makes many people more comfortable to voice uncommon opinions and solutions. It’s these kind of unusual ideas that can lead to true breakthroughs.
Increased employee engagement and motivation
Simply put, employees feel valued and heard when their opinions are considered.
This encourages a feeling of engagement, where everyone feels like they’re contributing to the overall success of the organization.
Additionally, when all members of the team are involved in decision-making, each team member takes ownership of the outcome.
Instead of feeling like passive observers or second-class citizens, team members take pride in their roles and accept responsibility for the outcome.
This sense of ownership is not only motivating for individual team members, but for the entire team as a whole.
Let’s say you’re the team leader of a web design team. You need to make a decision about what framework to use for your project and the whole team is voicing their opinions.
One team member brings up the idea of using React, but someone else brings up the potential drawbacks of using it.
The team then dives deep into the pros and cons together and decides, after a discussion, to use Angular instead.
What was lacking in understanding and wisdom of the entire group has now been discussed and collaboratively decided upon.
The whole team gets a sense of accomplishment from the collaborative decision-making process and increased motivation to get the project done.
If you had just decided on Angular to begin with, the team might have been left feeling a bit neglected and unmotivated, since their thoughts and ideas weren’t taken into consideration.
Not only that, it can lead to increased accountability on your team. If one team member suggests a solution and it’s accepted by the rest of the team, they will now have a vested interest in its success.
By engaging in collaborative decision-making, you are showing your team that their opinion matters, which can take your team-building efforts to the next level.
What you’re losing out on
You really can’t afford to ignore collaborative decision making in your organization.
With benefits like improved problem-solving, increased innovation, and increased employee engagement and motivation, you are missing out on a tremendous opportunity to get the most out of your team if you do not implement this process.
Not only does collaborative decision-making foster a sense of shared ownership and accountability, but it also encourages creativity and innovation.
Simply put, it’s a win-win for your organization, allowing you to make the most informed and effective decisions.
Look out for our next article on how to creative an environment conducive to more collaborative decision making coming later this week!
If you’d like to learn more about how to implement collaborative decision making and grow in this area of your leadership, we’d love to chat with you. Book your free consultation today!