In the context of networks and partnerships, we must constantly make group decisions. Unfortunately, we often go into these meetings without any real clarity on HOW a decision will actually be made. We wrongly assume that somehow a decision will simply emerge. And then we run into problems when expectations are unclear or disagreement is strong. We may walk out of the meeting with the nods of heads and the appearance of agreement, but no real commitment and therefore no real action.
In this video, productivity consultant Ed Muzio explains a basic model for group decision making that will help overcome these issues and make your meetings more effective.
Toward the end of the video, Muzio outlines an interesting principle of group decision making called “disagree and commit“. This principle, originated by Andy Grove of Intel Corporation, establishes the expectation that each team member is obligated to respectfully challenge decisions when they disagree (even if doing so is uncomfortable) while at the same time committing completely once a decision is reached.
In your cultural context, what do you think about the “disagree and commit” concept?