Think about the last decision you made at work with confidence. Did you rely on numerous stakeholders, or did you trust your judgment, blending knowledge, data, and intuition? Both methods can be valid, but research shows organizations often overly rely on consensus, leading to decision-making riddled with cognitive biases.
The 'Team Anywhere Lab' at Atlassian study organizational behavior to find the best ways to work. They designed an experiment [CLICK TO READ] to explore how judgment can improve decision-making called the "Make the Call" Experiment which hypothesized that:
1. A decision-making audit increases decision-making clarity, role clarity, and work speed.
2. The effects are stronger with managerial feedback.
Eighty-two Atlassians participated, split into two groups. Both groups filled out pre-experiment surveys, a decision-making audit template, and post-experiment surveys. Participants listed recent decisions, their uncertainties, and what worked well. The first group was asked how they could move decisions forward more quickly next time. The second group shared their template with their manager for feedback. The results are very interesting:
- Increased Decision-Making Confidence:
The audit increased by 19% participants' confidence in their judgment, understanding which decisions to make independently or with approval. - Enhanced Execution and Work Pace:
72% felt they could work faster due to clearer decision-making, and 60% made more progress on top priorities. - Boosted Confidence with Manager Feedback:
Participants who received managerial feedback benefited more, feeling empowered to make faster, more confident decisions, and strengthening their working relationships.
Conducting a decision-making audit and inviting managerial feedback can significantly enhance decision-making clarity and efficiency. Leaders and managers should encourage these practices to empower teams to "make the call" and drive better business outcomes.