EDI Thought for the month: Collaborative Decision Making

By Fitzgerald Clark, DYS Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

One of the tools that we utilize in DYS is collaborative decision making. It is not the only way decisions are made but often within our workspaces, a group of people will discuss an issue and come to a collective understanding of the solution or response needed. There will be decisions, due to the nature of the issue or the time frame needed for a response, that is not conducive to a collaborative decision but is most suited for a leader directed response.

We often do collaborative decision making informally as things pop up. Sometimes we have formal spaces such as the Collaborative Review Teams, or team meetings where this is done.

The collaborative decision making process, when there is time for it, is often a much superior way of finding solutions and responding to challenges than having one person make the decision. It utilizes the Sanctuary commitment of Open Communication and the EDI value and practice of Inclusion.  

Some of the benefits of collaborative decision making include:

• Correctly identifying the issue to be addressed. Different people may each have a different view of the issues at hand. Sometimes because of our particular life experience, or our different professional role, or our closeness to the persons or events involved. Having all the stakeholders involved helps us to have a much fuller understanding of the issues that need addressing.

• Soliciting all voices on possible solutions. Often in collaborative spaces the loudest or most “important” voices go first and the group never gets around to getting everyone’s perspective before moving to solutions. I have often noticed that just one or two perspectives are shared and then the conversation flips to how to implement one of these first two suggestions. This can unknowingly leave the best suggestion unheard because it doesn’t come from the loudest or most “important” voice in the room.

• Discuss and evaluate. This step is where the wisdom of the group is found. You should always seek consensus and only if that is not feasible would you move towards a majority rule, or leader directed decision.

• Staff Satisfaction. When done well, this is an inclusive process that allows people to feel like their voice matters regardless of the outcome. It increases employee satisfaction and engagement because they know that their voice matters and that they contribute to the decisions that are being made.

Think about how you can implement or improve the collaborative decision making within your team. If you need help in understanding the process, please reach out to Fitzgerald Clark for assistance.