For 6+ person decisions, collect independent written…
When a decision requires input from six or more people with distributed expertise, use independent written assessment before any group discussion—have each person write their recommendation anonymously, compile responses, then discuss—to prevent anchoring and social hierarchy from suppressing better information.
When This Fires
- When convening 6+ people for a decision with distributed expertise
- When you notice group decisions consistently reflecting the most senior person's initial position
- When important dissent exists but isn't surfacing in meetings
- When Amazon's "6-page memo" or Bridgewater's "idea meritocracy" principles are relevant
Common Failure Mode
Going around the table: "Let's hear from everyone, starting with Sarah." This feels inclusive but introduces serial anchoring — each person hears the previous speakers and adjusts toward the emerging group position. By the time you reach person #8, they're expressing a modified version of what persons #1-7 said, not their independent assessment.
The Protocol
(1) Before the meeting, distribute the decision question and relevant context in writing. (2) Each participant writes their recommendation independently: their position, their reasoning, and their key concerns. Anonymous submission prevents status effects. (3) Compile all written responses. Distribute to the group (still anonymous). (4) Now discuss — but the discussion's purpose is to explore disagreements revealed in the written responses, not to form initial opinions. (5) The written record ensures that all perspectives are preserved regardless of who speaks loudest during discussion. (6) The decision-maker (Every decision framework needs five explicit components, decision rights) uses both the written input and the discussion to decide.