Helping Teams Work 3 of 12

Making Team Decision Through Consensus

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Hello – I’m Mike Cardus of Create-Learning Team

Building & Leadership. An expert in creating &

sustaining high performance teams.

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Do’s and Don’ts For Dealing With Resistance To Your Project

Identifying Reasons People May Resist Your Project

Recognizing Resistance To Your Project

Is Your Data Persuasive?

Influence Strategies

Dealing With Team Problems

Dealing With Difficult Team Members

Handling Team Conflict Through Compromising vs. Consensus-Seeking

Conflict Management Approaches

Making Team Decision Through Consensus

Running the Team Meeting

Team Leaders’ Biggest Team Meeting Mistake

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Team Decision Making

Managing & working on teams the procedures being used must be known, shared and understood.

What are often seen as ‘personality conflicts’ are usually just people with unknown work procedures.

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Choosing what decisions require just the team leader(Unilateral)

Or

Needs input from the team – BUT the team leader, who is accountable for the output of the team, makes the decision (Consultative)

Or

The entire team will share and then decide AS A TEAM what to do (Group) …

Requires planning and forethought.

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Consensus: The issue is discussed in detail; with each member getting a chance to air his/her views and tries to influence others. The decision is shaped and modified to reflect different members views. Members hold out until the team reaches a decision they can support, even if it wasn’t their first choice.

The issue is very important. Buy-in from the entire team is required. The differing perspectives of the team members

can be combined to create a better solution. There is enough time for detailed discussion and

debate.

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www.create-learning.com

Key PrincipleUsed appropriately, consensus is a decision-making approach that can result in high-quality decisions that the entire team supports and works to implement. Used inappropriately, it can be a huge waste of time and a source of frustration.

Examples of decisions for which consensus is appropriate:o Setting project goalso Selecting a process for implementation of the goalso Picking a time for the team to meet

Examples of decisions for which consensus is inappropriate: Determining what method to use for reporting data and information. Deciding which location, clients, employees to use for audits and policy changes. Selecting how / where to print paperwork

Tips for reaching consensus□ Don’t just sell your idea…ask questions.□ Seek ways to address concerns of all…look for the “win/win” opportunities.□ Search for core issues: what’s important to the other person?□ Listen with an open mind.□ Try arguing the other side to ensure your really understand it.□ Don’t allow any member to dominate.□ Hold out for more discussion if you don’t agree.

Notes:Making Team Decisions Through Consensus

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www.create-learning.com

Who Should be at the Decision Making Meeting

Often the wrong people and too many people are in the meeting.

Being thoughtful about the type of meeting, and the decision to be made…will force you to think about who really has to be there. It is a waste of everyone’s time to call people into a Decision Making meeting that should not be there.

Consider; The decision to be made The type of meeting How much time will be allotted When the final project and solution must be implemented Who has the proper and necessary context, knowledge and

ability to add to the decision Do they really need to be there?

www.create-learning.com

Do’s and Don’ts For Dealing With Resistance To Your Project

Identifying Reasons People May Resist Your Project

Recognizing Resistance To Your Project

Is Your Data Persuasive?

Influence Strategies

Dealing With Team Problems

Dealing With Difficult Team Members

Handling Team Conflict Through Compromising vs. Consensus-Seeking

Conflict Management Approaches

Making Team Decision Through Consensus

Running the Team Meeting

Team Leaders’ Biggest Team Meeting Mistake

www.create-learning.com

Helping Teams Work 3 of 12

Making Team Decision Through Consensus

www.create-learning.com