Winning decisions require thinking outside the box and being open to other opportunities that may present themselves. Arc Management Group’s team has some practices they employ to ensure that they make informed decisions:
- Get Honest Input: When leaders ask their team members for input regarding decisions, they assume they’re getting whole stories. The Arc Management Group team notes that being open with leadership – especially if they must present contrary views – is something that many people struggle with when asked to contribute thoughts. The best thing to do is pay attention to nonverbal cues that could indicate whether you’re getting the full story. This could be silence, evasiveness, or eye-rolling. Ask for more clarity if needed or decide if an individual’s input is
necessary.
Be Open to Alternate Points of View: As a leader, you have an obligation to listen and assess information that comes to you. These could be ideas that contradict your original thoughts and plans. It could be objections. This is important information to gather. You might even end up challenging your first premise and arriving at a decision that’s different but better overall.
Use a Three-Strike Rule: Arc Management Group leaders use a three-strike rule to give people a chance to weigh in. The rule entails that people must present new information, especially if they object to decisions more than once. Once everyone has three chances to speak up, the decision is made and everyone is expected to accept it.
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