Humans Love To Disagree
I rarely find someone in our industry who isn't passionate about the work they do. That passion brings with it strong opinions on how things should be done. Add to that the fact that many humans avoid conflict and others like to argue, and it can stall initiatives both big and small.
And that's where the GAF Index comes in. I first heard about this unique model of decision-making back in the days of my first shop, nGen Works. And today, I'd like to share with you how it works, why it works, and when it works. Let's go!
Breaking Through Decision Standoffs
At its core, the GAF Index is a simple yet profound tool that measures how much we care about the outcomes of different decisions. It encourages us to ask ourselves, "On a scale of 1 to 5, how much do I really care about this?" By quantifying our emotional investment, we can prioritize our energy and focus on what truly matters, leaving minor worries behind.
How We Used the GAF Index at nGen
We made it a game. At the beginning of each week, we each got five index cards with the numbers 1 through 5 on them. We'd break out the cards when a disagreement between two or more folks inevitably happened. Each person would share their perspective, and then on the count of three, we'd each turn over our GAF card. Whoever played the higher card won, but that card was gone for the week. You could repeat it with each person pulling a new card if it was a tie. Or one of the players could yield.
What was fascinating was how against something I could be, but while I didn't like the idea, it was only a 2 in terms of how much I didn't like it. That added perspective broke through a lot of log jams and eventually guided people into new responsibilities based on what they gave a f*ck about. And while it worked for us, there are some pros and cons.
Benefits of the GAF Index
Enhanced Focus: By understanding your core interests, you can allocate your attention more effectively, leading to higher productivity and satisfaction.
Reduces Stress and Burnout: It encourages individuals to focus their energy and resources on tasks and decisions they find meaningful or important. It also helps to resolve outstanding items, which can be a real mental distraction.
Promotes Honest Reflection and Self-Awareness: Evaluating your GAF score for various tasks requires honest reflection and self-assessment. I found I was more aware of my priorities, values, and where I found meaning in my work.
Improved Team Dynamics: When used in a group setting, the GAF Index can help highlight shared values and priorities, fostering a sense of unity and purpose. Plus, it's exciting!
Things It Doesn't Work For
Complex Decisions: The GAF Index reduces decisions to a simple metric of personal investment or care. This might lead to the oversimplification of complex decisions that require a nuanced understanding of multiple stakeholders' interests or long-term consequences that are not immediately apparent.
Passion vs. Practicality: While passion and interest are important, they often aren't the sole criteria for decision-making. The GAF Index might lead to an overemphasis on these at the expense of practicality, feasibility, or the needs of others.
Exclusion of Diverse Perspectives: Decisions prioritized based on a small group's GAF scores exclude perspectives from those outside the group, leading to a lack of diversity in decision-making and an oversight of important considerations.
Even if you don't use it every day, understanding how much someone cares about a decision really changes the conversation. If somebody rides their bike to work, they aren't going to care about better parking, but that doesn't mean it doesn't matter.
f you have any questions about the GAF Index, it's one of the things I loved the most about my shop. It's goofy and fun, which is very much who we were. But if the idea of a card game making decisions in your company isn't gonna fly, take away the bigger insight. One person in a disagreement normally cares more or has more at stake. Consider that when those decisions are being made.