Unilateral vs. Consensus Decision-Making

Many managers have a difficult time knowing whether to make decisions alone or by consulting with team members.  An effective leader evaluates each situation on a case-by-case basis and chooses the appropriate style of decision-making.  The following guidelines can help.

Unilateral Decision Making is usually best when . . .

• The company is facing a crises, and time is critical
• An issue is so political that an unbiased viewpoint is difficult to obtain from the team
• A high-level strategy is needed in an environment where most employees do not understand the big picture

Consensus Decision Making is usually best when . . .

• Creativity is required to solve an important issue
• The implementation of an idea requires effort by multiple team members
• The team has strong feelings about how something is to be done, and the manager is only concerned about the end result

The bottom line is for a manager to carefully analyze each situation to choose the best method of making a decision.  By following the above guidelines, a leader can foster a strong team dynamic and earn a group's respect by knowing when to seek input and when to make authoritarian decisions.