Trusting the Process

intermediate2 min readbusiness · sociology · psychology

The Heaths argue that group decisions need a process participants can recognize as fair. They discuss bargaining, procedural justice, and candid communication as ways to support acceptance and implementation.

THE IDEA

Trusting the Process

Decisions made by groups have an additional burden: They must be seen as fair.
“Bargaining”—horse-trading until all sides can live with the choice—makes for good decisions that will be seen as fair.

• Nutt: Bargaining always improved decision success; the effect was “dramatic.”

• Bargaining will take more time up front—but it accelerates implementation.

Procedural justice is critical in determining how people feel about a decision.

• Court cases: Losers who perceive procedural justice are almost as happy as winners who don’t.

We should make sure people are able to perceive that the process is just.

• High-stakes mediator Mnookin: “I state back the other side’s position better than they could state it.”

• Entrepreneur Hitz: “Sometimes the best way to defend a decision is to point out its flaws.”

A trustworthy process can help us navigate even the thorniest decisions.

• Matt D’Arrigo, the founder of ARTS, found a way to combine the need to serve local kids with his aspirations to make a national impact.

“Process” isn’t glamorous. But the confidence it can provide is precious. Trusting a process can permit us to take bigger risks, to make bolder choices. Studies of the elderly show that people regret not what they did but what they didn’t do.

When to use it

Making a hiring decision as a team to ensure all members feel the process was fair and the choice is supported.
Deciding on a new company policy that affects multiple departments; using bargaining to reconcile differing interests.
Resolving a conflict between two departments by focusing on procedural justice and transparent communication.
Personal decision-making where fear of regret holds you back; trusting the process can help you take action.

FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE

In practice

Court Cases and Procedural Justice

The authors report that people who lost court cases but perceived a fair process were almost as happy as winners who did not perceive one. The comparison illustrates the importance of procedure as well as outcome.

Mediator Mnookin's Technique

High-stakes mediator Mnookin states back the other side’s position better than they could state it, to build trust.

Entrepreneur Hitz on Defending Decisions

Entrepreneur Hitz noted that sometimes the best way to defend a decision is to point out its flaws, making the process more transparent.

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A MOMENT TO REFLECT

Put it to work.

Think about a recent group decision you were involved in. Was the process perceived as fair by all? How could bargaining have improved the outcome and acceptance?
How can you ensure that others perceive the decision-making process as just, especially when they don't get what they wanted?
Identify a decision where you lacked confidence. How might trusting a fair process help you take a bolder or riskier choice?