How Do You Make Decisions in a Small Group?

My 12 years in the military taught me that the adage “Two heads are better than one” rings true in many scenarios, particularly in those crucial moments where outcomes can spell the difference between life and death. In the business setting, these critical moments are best seen in decision-making tasks where a bad choice can instantly ruin an otherwise thriving organization. Group decision-making is a smarter, safer way to keep the business growing.  

Make decisions in a small group by being open, honest, and inclusive toward your team members. Encourage them to share their insights without prejudice and be constructive in handling conflicts. Make sure to brainstorm all alternatives before arriving at a rational, comprehensive decision as a team. 

Let’s talk about what small group decision-making is all about and what its benefits are over the traditional method where the leaders take charge of the entire process. I will then walk you through the basic steps of group decision-making where I’ve included some tips on how you can arrive at the best, most beneficial decisions as a team.

Decision-Making in a Small Group

Many leaders are skeptical and critical about involving their team members in decision-making, and it is quite unsurprising because this idea goes against the conventional image we have of strong leaders. Traditionally, leaders are seen as imposing, self-assured individuals, highly skilled and knowledgeable about practically every aspect of the business. That’s why they’ve earned their lofty position in the company after all.

Are you one of them? Are you on the fence about sharing responsibilities with your team members because you feel that it might compromise your authority and power in the organization?  

Consequences of Individual Decision-Making

Carrying the burden of decision-making solely on your shoulders can take a toll on your physical and mental well-being. Stress and anxiety will eventually catch up with you one day, and you’ll find yourself dealing with so many health issues.

Chronic stress and anxiety affect almost all systems of the body — cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, endocrinal, nervous, and reproductive systems, and even your mental wellness. 

Here are some of the health issues you might be at risk for:

• Muscle tension and pain
• Muscle atrophy
• Tension and migraine headaches
• Shortness of breath
• Asthma attacks
• Increased heart rate
• Elevated blood pressure (which can lead to a heart attack or stroke)
• Inflamed arteries
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Reproductive disorders 
• Poor immunity
• Panic attacks
• Chronic fatigue
• Depression

Apart from these, you also run the risk of making one-sided, irrelevant decisions because your personal biases and limited perspectives will greatly influence your mindset and choices. These can lead to your team losing their confidence and trust in you, followed by reduced employee engagement, poor productivity, and a potential increase in employee turnover rates. 

Benefits of Group Decision-Making

Making decisions as a group has many advantages. As long as you, as the leader, are capable of effectively facilitating small group decision-making, your organization will reap many benefits you otherwise wouldn’t get to enjoy if you adamantly clung to more traditional ways.

Here are some of the benefits of group decision-making:

• Diverse perspectives. Each individual’s unique background, skill set, and experiences can contribute to a more well-rounded, inclusive, and informed decision.
• Builds buy-in from your team members. The team will be more accepting and willing to cooperate in the implementation of new plans or changes in the organization because they were involved in the entire process. They will feel more invested in their decisions’ outcomes.
• Encourages ownership. Whether outcomes are good or bad, your team members will develop a sense of accountability for the decisions you arrived at as a group.
• Fosters collaboration. By sharing their ideas with the group and engaging in healthy debate, team members can build stronger ties, establish teamwork, and cultivate trust among themselves and toward their leader. 

How To Make Decisions in a Small Group

Involving your team in making crucial decisions for the business will open you up to new possibilities you may not even think of considering if you were to do this arduous task alone. 

Here are some tips on how you can get started on making better decisions as a group:

1. Define the Problem

As a leader, it is essential to be transparent and honest with your team members. You must clearly communicate the problems or issues at hand and define what the objectives and goals are in finding the best solutions for them. Remind your team members about the value of arriving at an equitable decision that will benefit the company the most.

Set your standards early on for determining whether a potential solution is feasible or not. This is essential in ensuring that pertinent points are met, the needs of the people involved are catered to, and the team is able to efficiently move forward toward the succeeding steps.

2. Gather Information

This stage is where you’ll most appreciate group decision-making because you’ll see how each individual’s unique perspective will play a significant role in expanding your horizons when it comes to formulating diverse alternatives and plans of action. 

Gather as many insights and relevant information as you can about the issues surrounding the problem. Encourage each team member to participate and never negate nor undermine any point of view, regardless of how ludicrous it may seem to you. Remember that sometimes, the best solutions are derived from the most creative and unconventional ideas. Promote inclusivity by recognizing the contribution of each team member. 

3. Brainstorm

Break down each of the alternatives you and your team members came up with and evaluate which ones meet your set standards the most. Remember, you may be the leader of the team, but you have to know how to strike the right balance between authoritativeness and being obliging. A flexible leadership style that adapts to the needs of your team and adjusts to varying scenarios will be best.

Encourage healthy discourse by asking open-ended questions to promote constructive conversations and relevant feedback. Invite your team members to air out any assumptions, criticisms, or doubts about certain aspects of each of the alternatives, 

Weigh the pros and cons of each option being discussed. If conflicts arise — which is almost inevitable in any healthy debate — be quick to manage them so the team retains the camaraderie, teamwork, and trust they’ve already established. Conflict resolution is crucial in maintaining a synergistic workflow within the team. 

4. Make a Team Decision

When it comes to finally selecting your choice among the available alternatives, there are 3 main strategies you can implement:

• Take the average. Discuss among yourselves and determine the middle ground —the alternative that best suits everyone’s expectations. Some say this is all about playing it safe, but depending on your risk tolerance level, it’s a great way to start, especially if you’re not accustomed to team decision-making yet.
• Majority vote. Why not put it up for a vote? This is a democratic way of arriving at a final decision, one which is preferred by the majority of the team. 
• Exert your authority. Depending on your leadership style, you might want to have the last say when it comes to making the final decision. If you go this route, remember to keep everyone’s input in mind, rather than just relying on your own perspective, so you have better chances of arriving at a well-rounded, rational, and optimal decision for the team. 

7. Invest in Decision-Making Tools

Decision intelligence is fast becoming a go-to for more and more leaders these days when it comes to making logical decisions with their teams. These handy, reliable business tools are capable of streamlining the decision-making process and ensuring that the most suitable, perceptive, and beneficial alternatives are presented to you. 

Here are some of the most popular decision-making tools in the market today:

• CloverPop
• Decisimo
• OmniFocus
• iThoughts for iPad
• Cerebra

Key Takeaways

Making group decisions sometimes seems complicated because of the diversity of personalities, skills, and backgrounds you’ll have to deal with. But think of it this way — this sense of variety and complexity will expose you to possibilities that may otherwise be untapped.

If you’re one of those leaders on the fence about group decision-making, we at Sancus Leadership are eager to help. We’ll demonstrate the value of making choices as a team while walking you through best practices that will undoubtedly make a difference in how you lead your team. Book us a call today so we can get started!