Team Management: Hands Down, Taking a Democratic Vote Is a Bad Idea

Conflict can be good for teams. When team members trust one another and are able to explain their logic, disagreement can be harnessed to encourage focus and creativity, says Randall Peterson, a professor of Organisational Behaviour at London Business School who's spent more than a decade researching what makes teams tick. A strong team leader is a plus, but the democratic approach of taking a deciding vote to determine outcomes is likely to have a negative effect on team cohesion, he warns. Peterson outlines how to promote productivity and stop a difference of opinions escalating into "I hate you!".