Better Team Decisions: Balancing Emotion and Logic

Leadership teams often battle with joint decision-making. Holding both the interests of 'the team I lead' and 'my role on the leadership team' can quietly turn decisions into a feeling of winning or losing — which breeds competition instead of collaboration, and strains relationships and morale.

Why team decisions feel like winning or losing

Every decision involves compromise. And where there's compromise, there's emotion, as people grapple with the personal impact. When that goes unacknowledged, decisions get revisited again and again, and trust erodes.

Making better team decisions

By openly recognising that trade-offs are part of decision-making — and having quality conversations about both the logical and the emotional sides — teams make more thoughtful, cohesive choices in the best interest of the whole organisation, not just individual parts.

Frequently asked questions

Why do team decisions stall?

Often because they feel like winning or losing. Without acknowledging trade-offs and the emotion behind them, decisions get revisited and trust erodes.

How do teams make better decisions?

Acknowledge that every decision involves compromise, and have quality conversations about both the logic and the emotion — keeping the focus on the whole organisation.