How joint decision-making boosts trust

Your best decisions? They’re waiting in the room with your team. One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned as a leader is this: the best decisions aren’t made in isolation—they’re made together. When you involve your team in decision-making, you’re doing more than solving problems. You’re: → 𝗧𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀: Everyone brings a unique lens, which leads to more creative and well-rounded solutions. → 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽: When people have a say, they’re more invested in the outcome. → 𝗙𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵: Collaborative decision-making is a learning process that helps everyone improve. But collaboration isn’t about taking a poll and going with the majority vote—it’s a skill that takes intentionality. Here are some practices that have worked for me: 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 Before the discussion, align everyone on the problem you’re trying to solve. This keeps conversations focused. 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗽𝘂𝘁 Actively invite opinions from quieter voices or team members with different perspectives. 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝘆 Encourage the team to back up their ideas with reasoning—it helps uncover insights and ensures decisions are thoughtful. 𝗕𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 Not every decision can be a group decision. Be clear about how input will be used and who has the final call. 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 Once a decision is made, revisit it as a team. What worked? What could be improved next time? Of course, it’s not always easy. Collaboration takes time, effort, and a willingness to listen (even when opinions clash). But the payoff? A stronger team, better results, and a culture that values every voice. The next time you’re at a crossroads, consider gathering your team around the table, whether it’s a real one or a virtual one. The best ideas often come from the spaces where different voices meet. --- Follow Jeff Gapinski for more content like this. ♻️ Share this to help someone else out with teamwork today #leadership #marketing #teamwork

We’re seeing more clinics audit psychiatry notes for evidence of shared decision-making. The reason is clear: shared decision-making drives improved treatment adherence, and strengthens patient-provider trust. Beyond better outcomes, this approach restores purpose for providers and fosters genuine partnership in care.

The Power of Inclusive Decision-Making During my time at Movistar, I learned that true leadership isn’t just about making decisions it’s about making those decisions inclusively. In the fast-paced world of telecommunications, we faced a critical product launch that could either set us apart or leave us struggling to catch up. The Scenario: A Critical Product Launch We were gearing up to launch a new product with high stakes. Traditionally, these decisions were made by a small group of executives. However, I recognized that limiting input could mean overlooking key insights from those closer to our customers. Inclusive Leadership in Action I decided to broaden the decision-making process, including team members from marketing, customer service, sales, and technical support. Each team interacted with our customers in unique ways, providing valuable insights that could have been missed by the executive-only approach. Through collaborative workshops, we integrated diverse perspectives into our strategy. This approach wasn’t just about gathering opinions—it was about actively listening and adapting our plans based on what we heard. The Outcome: A Successful Launch The result? A product launch that exceeded expectations. By involving a broader group, we identified potential pitfalls early and addressed them proactively. The sense of ownership across teams translated into stronger execution and a more cohesive rollout. This experience reinforced my belief in the power of inclusive leadership. It’s not just about making the right decisions, but about ensuring those decisions are informed by the diverse experiences and expertise within the team. The Power of Inclusive Leadership Inclusive leadership builds trust, encourages creativity, and ensures well-rounded decisions. It’s essential in today’s complex business environment. By fostering a culture where everyone feels empowered to contribute, leaders can achieve outcomes that benefit the entire organization. Reflection The success of that product launch taught me that the process is as important as the outcome. When leaders take the time to listen to diverse voices, they build resilient and agile teams capable of achieving great things together. As leaders, we must ask ourselves: Are we creating space for diverse perspectives? Inclusive leadership isn’t just about better decisions—it’s about building stronger, more connected teams. Interestingly, this approach predated what we now recognize as Agile methodology, highlighting that the principles of inclusivity and collaboration have always been key to effective leadership. What steps are you taking to ensure your leadership approach is inclusive? I’d love to hear your thoughts.