The Single Best Way to Make Better Decisions as a Group

If you've ever been tasked with "brainstorming" in a group to come to a decision, you've probably seen this pattern:

1. The discussion starts when someone throws out an idea.
2. Everyone starts discussing the pros and cons of that one option.
3. Someone else throws out an alternative and now the first person is extra critical because this idea seems to be a response to theirs.
4. At this point, everyone either discusses the pros and cons of the second option or compares the first to the second.
5. This continues until the group feels good enough about an option or, more likely, one person successfully argues for theirs.

For a long time, I thought this was how it was supposed to work.

Group discussion is a debate about multiple options one after another. We all come up with an idea to defend and may the best idea make it through the gauntlet of argument.

This is stupid for a couple reasons:

1. A decision wins based on the argument for it and not the strength of the idea itself.
2. The discussion becomes about one idea instead of finding alternatives.
3. The collective effort of the group is working against each other.

The cure for this mode of decision making comes from design thinking.

Diverge, then converge.

Split the decision making into to 5 distinct parts.

1. Set a timer for a couple minutes and each privately write as many options as possible.
2. Put all the options together, remove duplicates and discuss the pros and cons of each one.
3. Each privately write down which option you'd choose.
4. Reveal your choices one by one and explain why.
5. Have a discussion and come up with a decision.

There are a couple reasons this works:

• Generating options occurs before making a choice.
• Everyone has time to work individually.
• You leverage the benefits of both writing and speaking.