• Gather input beforehand with group surveys
• Involve members in prioritizing issues
• Build steps backward from the desired result
• Control presentations online, but provide interaction
• Capture comments during presentations, build in action steps for the audience
• Identify barriers or dependencies quickly, and discuss solution options
• Conduct confidence checks on group decisions
• List action steps, and update their follow-up status centrally

See our white paper on effective decision making. This involves getting wide input from stakeholders, and considering multiple options for solutions.

Work Project Practices:

• Create a dashboard with major milestones
• Assign ownership for objectives, and build in regular updating of their status
• Set up drill-down lists for each team to develop detail on its objective, with links to discussion and decision tools •Provide project teams with specific work spaces, tied to email notification of new material
• Invite stakeholders and customers to periodically evaluate the project direction and status
• Share documents centrally, ensuring latest versions

See our white paper on structuring collaboration. This involves maintaining involvement by members, and focusing on shared thinking around project outcomes.

Lessons Learned:

• Keep it simple.
• Be explicit with what you want people to do.
• Check frequently that everyone is *on the same page.*
• Begin with the assumption that people should see the results of data gathering and decisions, rather than over-protecting. Group change depends on sharing the whole picture.
• Provide an intro area that: •Describes the desired outcome of the project, meeting or survey •Depicts the steps that will be taken, if this is a project over time •Maintains a current update on what is happening on the site, now •Helps people navigate to the areas they need to.
• Make sure background material is available in a library, and in an area with links to other sites or references.
• Provide for group input ahead of a large meeting, project or decision. This helps everyone participate, understand and digest the shared issues.
• Help the group develop clear definitions for terms or criteria, since there will be a variety of differing interpretations and assumptions involved.
• Provide areas for feedback: •During a presentation •After important meetings or processes •Where members can comment on what is being done or planned •To check for necessary course correction.
• Summarize outcomes or decisions, so there is clear history available as part of the working area. Provide for follow up accountabilities and timeframes, so all can track progress.
• Work on making direction and progress transparent to all stakeholders, not just the immediate team. Not only after the work is completed.
• Don't assume anything!

Here is some of our thinking, put down in White Papers:

• Unleashing the Power of the GroupMind
• Collaboration: a New Requisite for Managers
• Effective Decision Making
• Designing Interaction into Meetings
• Maintaining Momentum after a Strategic Meeting