LEADING DECISION GROUPS APAMSA Leadership Development Module

Leading Decision Groups  Leadership role can be shared but is often delegated to one person conducting the group meeting  Group leaders must guide discussions, facilitate information exchange, ensure comprehension, and confirm agreement on decisions  Goal: Involve all participants, minimize hostility and withdrawal, regulate behavior, resolve behavioral issues Task-Oriented Behaviors Source: G. Yukl, Leadership In Organizations (New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006, p )

Task-Oriented Behaviors  Leading Decision Groups A considerable amount of skill is needed to avoid being either too passive or too domineering Identify the most important aspect in guidelines for Leading Decision Groups to ensure a systematic and balanced approach to problem solving and decision making and briefly describe an example why this is the case Leadership Challenge (18)

Leading Decision Groups  Meeting preparations  Share information  Identify problems  Brainstorming  Evaluate ideas  Encourage participation  Build on ideas  Systematic problem solving  Integrative approach  Reach consensus  Clarify responsibilities Guidelines For Leading Decision Groups Source: G. Yukl, Leadership In Organizations (New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006, p )

Leading Decision Groups  Inform people of the time, place, and agenda for the meeting  Ensure adequate guidance for persons asked to present during the meeting  Reports to be discussed during the meeting can be distributed in advance with the agenda Meeting Preparations Source: G. Yukl, Leadership In Organizations (New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006, p )

Leading Decision Groups  Share important information with all persons present  Include a brief description of problems, timing of events, and what has been attempted to resolve the issue  Distribution of this information in advance of the meeting allows people more time to review it Share Information Source: G. Yukl, Leadership In Organizations (New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006, p )

Leading Decision Groups  Objectively identify the problem without placing blame or offering any solutions  It is important to present and discuss facts without adding too much interpretation  Stay focused on the issue and give equal consideration to all suggested solutions Identify Problems Source: G. Yukl, Leadership In Organizations (New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006, p )

Leading Decision Groups  Schedule time in your agenda to just brainstorm possible solutions  Create a list of all suggested solutions so they are not forgotten  Encourage the group to think out of the box and consider ideas that may be intricate, silly, or extreme Brainstorming Source: G. Yukl, Leadership In Organizations (New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006, p )

Leading Decision Groups  After your brainstorming session, schedule time to evaluate each suggested solution  Do not write off solutions at first glance or prior to discussing all options  Consider each suggestion in equal measure, list and discuss the pros and cons Evaluate Ideas Source: G. Yukl, Leadership In Organizations (New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006, p )

Leading Decision Groups  Silence can be misinterpreted as a sign of agreement rather than dissent  Request individuals who have not spoken to speak  Devise a way to make suggestions anonymous  Do not allow anyone to dominate the conversation, intimidate others, or make derogatory comments Encourage Participation Source: G. Yukl, Leadership In Organizations (New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006, p )

Leading Decision Groups  Restate all suggestions and try to build upon their strengths  Identify shortfalls for each idea and consider how it can be modified to improve the idea  Request that those who identify weaknesses in an idea to also suggest a way to correct the deficiency Build On Ideas Source: G. Yukl, Leadership In Organizations (New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006, p )

Leading Decision Groups  Systematically identify the advantages and disadvantages with each suggested solution  Discuss constructive ways to correct weak points for each idea  Evaluate and compare suggested solutions and agree on an overall ranking for each option Systematic Problem Solving Source: G. Yukl, Leadership In Organizations (New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006, p )

Leading Decision Groups  “The best of both worlds”  Consider consolidating several ideas and their best features into one integrative solution  Incorporate essential qualities and priorities of each idea Integrative Approach Source: G. Yukl, Leadership In Organizations (New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006, p )

Leading Decision Groups  Encourage the group to reach a consensus and agree on a single course of action  Voting may also help finalize a group decision  Once a consensus or majority vote is reached, declare the decision being made Resach Consensus Source: G. Yukl, Leadership In Organizations (New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006, p )

Leading Decision Groups  With a course of action determined, delineate necessary action steps and assignment of persons responsible  Arrange for a scribe to take notes and distribute a summary of what was discussed and decided at the meeting Clarify Responsibilities Source: G. Yukl, Leadership In Organizations (New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006, p )

Task-Oriented Behaviors  Leading Decision Groups Group leaders must guide discussions, facilitate information exchange, ensure comprehension, and confirm agreement on decisions Apply these guidelines to ensure a systematic and balanced approach to problem solving and decision making Summary

Task-Oriented Behaviors  Fundraising Our next module discusses guidelines to better organize fundraising efforts Next Topic…

Task-Oriented Behaviors  G. Yukl, Leadership In Organizations, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006, p  Free Management Library Sources