- "So we're taking the conservative approach instead of the higher risk/reward tack that I wanted."
- "So we're going down a road that I've already been down and I'm certain it won't work."
- "So we're going to make that hire instead of this other person that I've got a great gut feeling about."
imperative that every team member jump on the bandwagon and become the final decision's biggest cheerleaders.What does it take for that to happen? If the members of your team are leaders or even people with opinions at all, they will need to feel that they've been heard. Assuming that the team is made up of people who are more about the success of the team or organization than they are about just getting their own way (perhaps that's a large assumption)... If people are about team success, they will be able to go along with the decision a lot better if they believe that their ideas were heard and given proper consideration.
Failing in this will often lead to team members undercutting the decision that was agreed on. Divisiveness... lobbying... passive aggressive non-action... These are common when people haven't bought in.
Leaders, if you want your team to buy in to the decision -- even if they disagree -- you must make them feel heard. You may have to let your meeting go beyond the 90 minutes you had planned. You may need to table a decision until everyone is heard. You may have to listen when you're already sure of what to do. But failure to do so guarantees that people walk away feeling unheard, unvalidated and hedging on the decision made.
Give your team a chance to be heard and they will buy in!
