5 Tips for facilitating a Decision Group

February 18, 2008

Decisions have to be made and, unfortunately, they sometimes have to be made by a group.

A group is good at many things. With the right group you can win a sports tournament, move a boulder, and erect a building. Groups are also an excellent resource for idea processing and brainstorming, which is why they’re often called upon to make decisions.

But, a group is horrible at narrowing things down to a single, final decision. And, what do you expect? With so many different minds holding so many differing opinions working on the same set of problems, it’s madness to expect otherwise.

But, in my experience, there are a few things you can do, as a facilitator, to insure an easier experience:

Make Everyone in the Group Meet – The only way you’ll ever get a group to come to a final decision is by forcing them all to come face to face. No one can switch sides later, and everyone feels represented fairly.
Present cases thoroughly – Make sure that everyone understands all aspects of the decision. Make sure that the case for each decision is represented thoroughly and fairly. This often means presenting the choices on paper or the equivalent.
Use the Process of elimination to reduce choices – If the decision cannot be arrived at through conversation remember the process of elimination. Make everyone agree on a generalized decision and narrow the choices slowly.
Be objective – It’s not your place as facilitator to make a decision or influence the decision in any way. It doesn’t matter how well informed you are. If you are an expert you should offer your expertise objectively and try not to lead the decision.
Don’t make an executive decision – If your group is refusing to agree, even after being brought face to face, you need to meet again. Do not make the decision! No matter how impossible the situation seems, it will only be made worse if you make the decision.

Posted by flowersjustin | Filed Under blog