Quick Question: How do our values show up in our decision-making?
Quick Question
Here is today's quick question for you...How do our values show up in our decision-making?
The quality of collective decision-making is coming up in many of my coaching conversations. Over the next 6 weeks, I’ll feature a series of questions designed to help you create the conditions for better decisions. Starting with values…
Ask it when you're...
Reflecting on the impact of past decisions - As an LT, your decisions send ripples throughout the organisation. People want to trust that your values are embedded in every call you make.
Making a hard call - The toughest decisions are often the ones that involve tension between values. Calling them out and describing how they’re showing up for each person can help navigate to an outcome.
Sensing groupthink - If it feels like your team is on a runaway train, pausing and anchoring back to values can help reorient the conversation.
Listen for...
Try to listen for:
Explicit references - while it may be that values are implicit in your decisions, making them explicit leaves no-one in doubt
Illogical disagreement - a lack of logic can be a sign that a values conflict is in play
Unduly quick agreement - sometimes, speedy decisions happen because an outcome is obvious. Other times, loud, influential voices pull the group towards an outcome without proper consideration
Follow up with...
Sometimes, the greatest value comes from the one extra question you take the time to ask.
In this situation, you could try…
What would our newest or most junior people think of this decision?
How would I explain this to my grandmother?
How do I know I will sleep well with this decision?
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