Last updated on Jul 26, 2024

Your team is divided on risk-taking in decision-making. How do you find common ground?

When your team is split on the level of risk to embrace in decision-making, it can lead to a standoff that hampers progress. To navigate this divide, it's crucial to understand that decision-making is not just about taking risks; it's about managing them. Some team members will naturally be more cautious, focusing on potential pitfalls, while others will push for bold moves that could lead to significant gains. Finding common ground requires a balanced approach that respects both perspectives, ensuring that decisions are made with a full understanding of the potential outcomes.

1 Assess Risks

Begin by collectively evaluating the risks associated with the decision at hand. This involves a frank discussion about what could go wrong and the likelihood of such events. Encourage everyone to voice their concerns and hopes. By doing so, you'll not only identify the potential downsides but also the opportunities that might be worth pursuing. This step is not about instilling fear of taking risks but about developing a shared understanding of what's at stake. A well-informed team is better equipped to find a middle ground that balances caution with the potential for reward.

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Tarek Bakhshawan

Management consulting - Financial Consulting - Governance and policies - Business developing - FP&A
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The first step is to assess the risk and classify it upon its importance and danger and start to suggest the solutions that can deal with this risks on steps : 1- Avoid risk by taking decisions makes you avoid these risks 2- Transfer risk by transferring it to another party like insurance companies or other alternatives 3- Decrease risk as possible by taking decisions that result the lowest harmful effects These cases has different situations and has non-routine solutions so you have to analyze all available data to see the whole image and see all quantitative and qualitative variables to take the right decision

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2 Value Opinions

Every team member's opinion is a piece of the puzzle when it comes to making well-rounded decisions. Recognize that each perspective, whether risk-averse or risk-taking, has its merits. By valuing all opinions, you create an inclusive environment where everyone feels heard and respected. This can lead to innovative solutions that might not have been considered if only one side of the risk spectrum was taken into account. Through active listening and acknowledgment of each viewpoint, you'll foster a sense of unity and collaboration, even amongst differing opinions.

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3 Define Objectives

Clarifying your team's objectives can help align everyone's focus. When team members understand the ultimate goals, they can better evaluate which risks are worth taking. This step involves defining what success looks like and what the team is collectively working towards. It's important to make sure these objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). With clear objectives in place, it becomes easier to discuss how different risk levels can affect the achievement of these goals.

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4 Build Trust

Trust is the cornerstone of any successful team. When it comes to managing conflicts over risk-taking, building and maintaining trust is essential. This means creating a safe space where team members feel comfortable expressing their views without fear of dismissal or retribution. Trust fosters open communication, which is vital for exploring different risk profiles and their implications. When team members trust each other, they are more likely to compromise and work towards a solution that incorporates various risk appetites.

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Yesica Mejía Patiño

Head of legal | Abogada | Especialista en Derecho de los Seguros y Administrativo | EMBA en Curso | Gobierno Corporativo, contratos, compliance y RSE | Líder en Transformación Legal | Miembro de Gerencias Legales LATAM
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To build trust and find common ground when a team is divided on taking risks, we must foster open communication and highlight shared goals and values. It is essential to share all relevant information to reduce misunderstandings and develop empathy among team members. Additionally, promote the creation of a plan that combines calculated risks with safety measures in an environment of collaboration and trust.

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5 Implement Strategy

Once you've found common ground, it's time to implement a strategy that reflects the collective decision. This strategy should include steps to mitigate risks while seizing opportunities. It's crucial to develop a plan that everyone can get behind, which might involve combining elements from both risk-averse and risk-tolerant perspectives. By doing so, you ensure that the team moves forward with a unified approach, increasing the chances of success and demonstrating that diverse opinions can lead to a strong, cohesive strategy.

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6 Monitor Progress

After implementing your strategy, keep a close eye on progress and be ready to adjust as necessary. Monitoring allows you to see how well your risk-managed decisions are playing out in real-time. If certain risks become more pronounced or if unexpected opportunities arise, your team must be agile enough to respond. Regular check-ins provide a forum for discussing these developments and ensure that everyone remains on the same page, continuing to work together towards your shared objectives.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Alexandra Sarstedt

Trainings & Workshops, Moderation & Mediation für gelingende Zusammenarbeit. ➡️ Wir. Müssen. Reden.
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Entscheidungsfindungen sind immer eine Herausforderung für Teams. Meine Erfahrung zeigt, dass man hier sehr gut mit Widerständen arbeiten kann. Dabei werden die möglichen Optionen von jedem Entscheidungsträger mit Punkten bewertet - je nachdem, wieviel Widerstand sie bei der jeweiligen Person auslösen. Je mehr Widerstand, desto mehr Punkte (jeder hat insgesamt 10) werden vergeben. Wenn eine Person eine totale Aversion gegen eine bestimmte Lösungsoption hat, scheidet diese von vornherein aus. Am Ende wird die Option mit den wenigsten Widerstandspunkten genommen und für eine vereinbarte Dauer ausprobiert. Sollte das Ergebnis sich dann nicht als gut erweisen, wird der Prozess erneut durchlaufen.

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Your team is divided on risk-taking in decision-making. How do you find common ground?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess Risks

2 Value Opinions

3 Define Objectives

4 Build Trust

5 Implement Strategy

6 Monitor Progress

7 Here’s what else to consider

Conflict Management

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Your team is divided on risk-taking in decision-making. How do you find common ground?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess Risks

2 Value Opinions

3 Define Objectives

4 Build Trust

5 Implement Strategy

6 Monitor Progress

7 Here’s what else to consider

Conflict Management

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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