Why Decisions Shouldn’t Be Democratic—And How the Decider Model Accelerates Progress

Group decisions often drag on as everyone wants a vote or a say—until nothing gets resolved and momentum evaporates. Teams mean well, but the effort to satisfy everyone usually leads to compromise solutions or indefinite delays. In the Sprint approach, every project gets a Decider—a person empowered to make tough calls and keep the group moving forward.

Whether it's the CEO, a project manager, or a specially delegated team member, the Decider listens to input but ultimately makes the decision. Past teams learned the hard way: stalled projects, abandoned prototypes, and rework when the real authority returned and overruled the group’s democratic choices. Conversely, appointing a clear Decider makes everyone else's contributions more meaningful and ensures everyone knows where to look when there’s a fork in the road.

Cognitive science shows people are happier and more engaged when roles and authority are clear. It's not about shutting out input, but about replacing ambiguity with trust and efficiency. It may feel strange at first, but having a Decider keeps projects from veering off track, letting teams achieve more without getting stuck in the weeds.

From the outset, define who’s in charge—the Decider—so everyone is clear about how final choices are made. When disagreements or debates spill over, have the Decider step in and choose a direction. Let the Decider have access to everyone’s input but keep the power to overrule or settle ties. You’ll notice decisions move forward faster, people know how to contribute, and nobody is left guessing what’s happening next. As simple as it sounds, trust in this model can transform your team’s output almost overnight.