Group Decision-Making Skills

"Decision by Committee" Works

Group decision-making, problem-solving and prioritizing can add to the frustrations of teamwork if not managed in a structured way. Helping people with a range of backgrounds and goals make high-quality decisions together without taking too long can seem daunting. However, studies consistently show that if given the same information as a single expert, a team usually makes better decisions, by harnessing group knowledge and differing perspectives. TeamTrainers has created and collected numerous techniques to lead group decision-making that reaches consensus as quickly as possible with the highest support. You can either spend the time to get buy-in before the decision, or make the decision and spend time getting it afterward. The problem with the second approach is that some people never fully buy in, and the rest do not feel as motivated as they would if they considered the decision their own.

Solve the Problems of Group Problem-Solving

The class walks the team through the process step-by-step, using the team's real issues if possible. It can be a half- or full-day class depending on the nature and number of problems addressed. It covers skills for:

• Problem-solving—Clarifying the problem, gathering information, identifying creative solutions, and comparing them to narrow the choices.
• Decision-making—Helping the team choose the best solution in ways that maximize team and stakeholder support.
• Prioritizing—Deciding the order in which problems need to be tackled to ensure optimal use of the organization's time and money while causing the least possible stress on the team.

The team leader and members are encouraged to facilitate many of the steps, developing hands-on skills for future issues, and students receive a reprint of 17 specific techniques from the "do-it-yourself" book version of The SuddenTeams™ Program.

Though conducted at your preferred site and customized for your team's real-world issues, the per-person charge is usually less than you would pay for generic off-site training. Make it a priority to contact TeamTrainers today to solve your group problem-solving problems.