Here's how you can enhance your contribution to collaborative decision-making as a team member.

In my experience, I find embracing a multitude of perspectives is crucial. Collaborative decision-making thrives on the exchange of diverse ideas and fostering solutions. As such I believe it's essential to approach this process with an open mind and practice active listening, ensuring a comprehensive understanding. This holistic approach not only improves the decision-making process but also reinforces the collective wisdom of the team.

Times are evolving more and more in collaborative leadership and it’s simply no longer just a strategy in the way decisions are made for a team’s function but a transformative journey. The creativity of diverse teams is increasingly changing the business landscape, assisting is resolving complex problems, improve company overall engagement motivation and foster innovation.

I've always emphasized that active communication involves both talking and listening. Listening should come first, followed by talking. Additionally, it is important to seek understanding by considering the meaning of the words, their interpretation, and the perspectives of those who are speaking. Is there more than one person in this audience? Are there multiple perspectives to consider?

Clear communication comes in many ways. One example that I consider when verbally speaking, whether it's with my mother or a respected client, is to pause intermittently during conversations. I take a moment to think about the few last words that came out of my mouth and make sure they still fall in line with my thoughts and ideas in my head. Even if that pause is just to take a deeper breath, it will help me slow down when trying to clearly communicate my ideas.

Giving and receiving constructive feedback and criticism can be a challenging task, especially in a team setting. Many individuals are still in the process of developing this skill, and as a leader, it is crucial to establish clear standards and expectations regarding constructive criticism. One effective approach is using the "compliment sandwich" method, where you begin with a positive comment, provide constructive feedback, and then conclude with another positive remark.

No body is better than the whole of the team and nobody knows everything. Lead by involving key members of your Team set realistic goals that mutually resolve bigger issues. Use your higher performance people but manage the results don't get over run. Smart is ok but common sense can also be elusive.

You have unique and varied experiences! But so do the other members of your team! Respect their experiences, and the wisdom that comes from them. Perhaps you can learn from the experience of others if you will take time to listen, before discarding their opinions/ experiences, even though they may not take time to listen to yours. You don't always have to be heard to provide wisdom of your own!