4 decision-making methods to get things done at work (command-consult-vote-consensus) ✅

Does your team keep making bad decisions at work?

It’s often not a lack of skill — it’s the decision-making method.

The book Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High outlines four decision-making methods to use in different situations:

• command

• consult

• vote

• consensus

Learning when to use each of these will help you make faster, smarter decisions, improve teamwork, and convert decisions into clear action plans!

One person makes the call as the main authority.

In a team, a command sounds like: "We'll accept this project and work on it beginning tomorrow."

Example: A project manager accepts a last-minute client change on a fast-moving project with tight deadlines. There’s no time to gather team input, so they use their expertise and make a quick decision to keep things moving.

Pros 👍

• Fast and efficient

• Clear accountability

• Works when leader has expertise

Cons 👎

• Others may feel excluded

• Risk of blind spots due to lack of input

• May create dependency on one decision-maker

Gather your team and listen to what others have to say before making a decision. You want to hear what others think and form a decision after.

In a team, a consult sounds like: "What do you think about taking on this project?"

Example: A team lead sets up a call with the team to ask their thoughts about taking on a project that requires expertise that the current team doesn't currently have. While the team chimes in with their ideas, the lead still has the final say.

Pros 👍

• Balances speed with inclusiveness

• Encourages engagement

• Gives diverse perspectives

• Builds trust because people feel heard

Cons 👎

• Others may still feel excluded because they don't decide

• Can be time-consuming if many are consulted

• If input is ignored, it can frustrate teammates

Put the decision to a vote, and the majority wins.

In a team, a vote sounds like: "Let's put it to a vote whether to take on this project or not."

Example: A project manager emails their team a link where the team can vote anonymously on their decision regarding a possible project.

Pros 👍

• High participation and sense of fairness

• Encourages team ownership

• Reduces bias in decisions

Cons 👎

• Majority rule may ignore minority concerns

• Risk of popularity-based choices versus strategic ones

• Not ideal if expertise is uneven within the group

Negotiate a decision that works for everyone.

In a team, a consensus sounds like: "Let's discuss the project requirements further and make a decision that works for all of us."

Example: A project manager gathers the team in a meeting room or online to discuss the pros and cons of taking on a project. They aim to reach a decision that everyone agrees on.

Pros 👍

• Creates strong teamwork

• Encourages deep discussion and understanding

• Often leads to high-quality, well-rounded decisions

Cons 👎

• Extremely time-consuming

• Can lead to compromising decisions

• Risk of group pressure

Here are four questions to guide you what methods to best use:

1. Who cares?

Who genuinely cares about what will happen when the decision is made? You can consult or involve these people.

2. Who knows?

Who has the expertise on the topic? Involve these people as they can help you make a well-informed decision.

3. Who needs to agree?

This could be people in authority or influence who have a stake in your decision. Involve them early to avoid possible resistance in the future

4. How many people are enough to make a decision?

You don't necessarily need a lot. Ask yourself whether you have enough people to make a good decision, and what benefits there are if you involve more people. And remember, quality over quantity!

As long as you've got the right people to engage, good decisions follow.

You’re a young team leader overseeing a small team of five. Your group is preparing a client presentation due in three days.

Suddenly, the client emails asking if the presentation can include an additional section on competitor analysis.

This new requirement will add extra work and may affect the timeline. You need to decide how your team will respond.

You know it's important to work fast and impress the client, but also realize that this means extra work for the team.

Which decision-making methods would be most effective in this situation? Choose any methods that could work:

• Command: Decide quickly on your own. You decide the team will include the new section and regroup on task assignments immediately.

• Consult: Ask your team about the additional work effort and then ask your manager for extra support from another employee.

• Vote: Ask the team to vote on whether to include the new section or adjust the timeline.

• Consensus: Schedule a discussion for the next day where everyone must agree on the best path forward before acting.

Next time you need to make a decision with your team, use these methods to achieve your goals and perform well together.