Why You Should Include Employees In Decision-Making

High-performance workplaces promote employee participation in decision-making as they understand that employees have a legitimate right to be involved in decisions which have an impact on their working lives.

By including employees, that positive gains also accrue to the organisation. These gains include:

• Enhanced employee performance which results from greater motivation
• A positive workplace culture is an outcome from greater information-sharing, and
• There are improvements in productivity when employees are consulted over changes to job design and work practices.

How To Encourage Employees’ Participation In Decision-Making

To encourage participation in decision-making, you need to do the following:

• Include team members in division/section/department decision-making by fully informing them of the situation and the decision(s) that needs to be taken.
• Encourage team members to think of solutions to the problem being as innovative as possible.
• Ask team members to provide alternatives, evaluate the alternatives and select one for implementation.
• Seek the best solution through getting team members to debate their viewpoints and work towards finding common ground.
• Include team members in decision-making by fully informing them of the situation and the decision(s) that needs to be taken.

When you plan on involving your team, or members of your team in a decision. you need to ensure that you know exactly what you want to achieve. When employees participate in the decision-making process, this may improve understanding and perceptions among colleagues and superiors and enhance personnel value in the organisation.

How To Promote Group Participation

Make Sure That You Know Your Audience

Be cognisant of differences among participants (that is education, wealth, occupation, ethnicity, religious motivations and understanding of participation norms). Consider who possesses authority and who does not.

Explain expectations for the meeting and the part that the group will play in the decision(s) to be made:

• Will the group make the final decision?
• Are members just advising a decision- making body elsewhere?
• How will the final decision be taken?

Try to include as many people, or representatives of as many groups, as possible. Be cognizant of how people were invited to attend as well as if anyone was overlooked.

Reflect On How The Group Processes The Information

Will the individuals meet for the initial time in a large group setting or will they meet beforehand on a more informal basis to discuss issues? If so, communicators might want to distribute information ahead of time in order to give them time to review as well as prepare for the formal meeting.

Recognise Different Formats Of Participating

Work to include all voices. Give everyone a chance to speak and also respect different methods for making an argument.

Make Sure All Viewpoints Are Represented

Ask for ideas from the different individuals involved in the discussion. Utilise pre-existing relationships within the group to communicate information as information passed through common channels is often most effective.

Be Mindful Of Verbal And Non-Verbal Means Of Participation

Understand non-linguistic means of communication such as disruptive behaviour, nods of approval, or (alternatively) applause.

Acknowledge That Participants Will Have Other Aims

Meetings are frequently a place for people to socialise, meet new people as well as further their own personal or, alternatively, political goals. These “social goals” are a vital part of participation.

Realise That Members Of A Group Will Work Together Outside Of Meetings

A meeting is just one part of the entire decision process. Utilise group discussion in order to generate solutions. Individuals may be more willing to admit a problem if they feel there are solutions to dealing with the problem. This can assist to keep messages positive, encourage optimism as well as demonstrate how groups can be a powerful force in the process of tackling the climate change challenges ahead.

As a marketing manager, you will need to get the best out of your employees in your department.

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