Dear Transparency-Committed Reader,
You’re not alone. So many of us want decision-making to reflect our collective values (like transparency, care, and shared power), but it’s hard to actually put those values into practice. That gap between what we believe and how we decide can be frustrating. And getting stuck in the process is a common concern I hear from groups.
I am happy to share, though, that decision-making doesn’t have to be a nightmare. There are tested and thoughtful ways to structure group decisions that are participatory, time-bound, and lead to real action.
Before diving into specific decision-making methods, here’s a grounding principle: Decision-making is a shared practice. It’s something we learn and get better at together. When group decisions feel frustrating, it’s often because there wasn’t a shared understanding of how the process works, or there was a mismatch between intentions and structure. But decision-making can actually be a predictable, easeful part of your work, where people grow closer together, appreciate differences, and things move forward effectively.
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