Involving your Team in Decisions

Teamwork and team decisions generate a greater sense of purpose and direction for both the individual participants and the organization.  However, the effort toward team decision making and participatory management must be genuine in order to receive the full benefits.  It may not always be easy to involve others in the types of decisions that you have made by yourself over the years, but the result will be well worth the effort.  Some rules to remember as you put this new management style into practice:

• Be above board and open about the decision-making style you are using. Shared commitment to a common vision increases trust and gives the manager access to valuable information from everyone on the team. Avoid actions that diminish trust.

• You can give away authority or freedom that you don't have. Involving your team members in a decision-making area in which you have no authority is inappropriate.

• Never pretend that you are involving the team in decision making (consensus) when you have already made up your mind.

• Don't give "lip service" to participatory management by allowing team members to make only low-risk, mundane or unimportant decisions. They aren't any more interested in them than you are. 

Flex your decision making style.  Approach each decision with an open mind and apply the method that is most appropriate for achieving the best decision while developing the team.