Group decision-making and brainstorms can take up a lot of time.Nothing comes out except a ball of ideas with no idea of how to untangle it.Group negotiations deplete energy, breathe life into poor ideas, and result in watered-down decisions.To get around the inherent pitfalls of group decision-making, learn to structure sessions which effectively short-circuit time and energy, and use "Note and Vote" to tap the power of many minds and many viewpoints.
Step 1: Pick a facilitation for the proceedings.
The agenda will be set by this person.
Step 2: The meeting place and time should be set.
The time that is suitable for everyone should be set by the organizers.He or she should let everyone know that the meeting will last thirty minutes and include refreshments.
Step 3: The supplies should be gathered.
To facilitate the meeting, the organizers should gather all the "things you'll need" and prepare crib notes to guide them.The process should be finished earlier in the day or the previous day.
Step 4: You can choose a decider.
The meeting may be done by a blind draw of toothpicks or marbles.The decider is the person who draws the short toothpick.Pulling a name from a hat can be used to choose the decider.If the first choice doesn't work out, a second choice might be drawn.
Step 5: Individual thoughts can be gathered.
Give everyone two pieces of paper and a writing implement, then set a timer for seven to ten minutes.During this time, each person records as many pertinent ideas as he or she can, so everyone is encouraged to open up without regard for any potential judgements.The plan is to capture all the ideas and unleash a free association of wild, loose thinking.People don't have to worry about sharing dumb ideas.Be it to identify opportunities for new ventures, to plan an optimal transition to a new product line, whatever, the facilitator should mention it.Once your mind opens itself to the task, seven to ten minutes is a lot of time.You don't need to rush, just write down your thoughts and ideas in bullet points.
Step 6: Take the individual thoughts into account.
If you want everyone to narrow their thoughts to the two best, set a timer for two minutes.All ideas should be crossed off except for the two stellar insights.Again, the thinking should be done by individuals and not influenced by what others think.
Step 7: The individual ideas can be captured on a whiteboard.
The person lists the ideas on the whiteboard while the other reads their ideas.It is fun to use vocalizing and inflection as entries are read, however there should be no pitching of the ideas at this time.Everyone should be pretty excited about the suggestions they give and a bit of drama is encouraged.It is a good idea to number the choices so they are easy to refer to during the voting.
Step 8: You can vote on the favorites.
The time limit for this part of the process is three to five minutes.The timer should be set for the length of time.Everyone chooses their favorite from a list on the whiteboard and records it on a piece of paper.There will be no discussion during this process.When each person has made their selection, they should turn their paper over and wait for the others to finish.
Step 9: They should announce the votes.
Each person, in turn, says aloud his or her vote while someone marks the votes with a dot.The pitch must be short, no more than one minute per pitch.
Step 10: Decide the outcome.
The decider can either honor the votes or not.The decider helps simplify the process.Everyone in the group should have agreed that everyone will support the choice of the decider and honor it.A decider eliminates a lot of back and forth politics.
Step 11: The process should be shaped appropriately.
Tailor the process to your group needs, to the team members, and to what is being considered.
Step 12: Allow each participant two votes.
They can be used on separate items or doubled up on one item.
Step 13: Realize the benefits of being alone.
Allowing alone time to consider and sift through viable options helps circumvent groupthink.There is a richer and more diverse pool of options.
Step 14: The positive effect of abandoning linear decision processes is acknowledged.
One person speaks while the others listen, waiting for a turn to articulate their thoughts in a normal meeting.Members of the decision-making process often try to jump the thought train onto a path that follows their vision."Note and vote" gets around the final outcome of a traditional meeting by isolating each thought process.
Step 15: You can use the power of parallel processing.
Many independent ideas are generated rather than one, none, or a single watered-down compromise when "Note and Vote" invokes the processing power of each mind simultaneously.
Step 16: Groupthink can be short-circuited by blind, independent voting.
Each choice reflects a unique perspective, and no voice is amplified.The votes echo the opinion of someone who is considered wise or the "voice of reason" in other processes.
Step 17: The sales pitches give you insight.
Valuable insights can be provided by listening to the perspective of others.
Step 18: Understand the power of time alone.
The meeting gives little time for individual thinking.There isn't much engaged, creative thinking and sorting.The "Note and Vote" format starts the creative sorting process.A large amount of individual thinking can yield better final choices.
Step 19: In this case, the decider is often the strongest choice.
In one-quarter of the time, the decider will pick an outcome that is superior to one that was arrived at in a traditional meeting.