Teen Exec Question of the Week

September 16, 2025

You’re leading a group project at school. Two team members have very different ideas about how to approach the assignment. The deadline is in three days, and the group is starting to argue instead of making progress.

What’s the best first step you can take as the leader?

Decide on one idea yourself and tell the group to follow it
Take a vote immediately so the majority wins
Delay the decision until the night before the deadline to give people time to cool off
Ask each team member to explain their reasoning while the group listens
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Best Response: D

Explanation: Strong leaders use facilitation to help groups move forward. By asking each person to share their reasoning, you’re showing respect for everyone’s input and helping the team understand different perspectives. This lowers conflict and raises the chance of finding a solution that works for the group. You’re also practicing executive functioning skills like emotional regulation (keeping the tone calm), organization (structuring the conversation), and perspective-taking (understanding others’ viewpoints).

Let’s look at the other options:

  • A might feel efficient, but it’s more about control than leadership. It risks making teammates feel ignored, which can lower motivation and hurt the group’s ability to collaborate in the future. A good leader balances direction with inclusion.
  • With B, voting can be fair, but doing it too early can backfire. If people feel like their ideas weren’t truly considered, they may disengage or even resist the final plan. Leadership isn’t just about quick decisions — it’s about guiding the group toward thoughtful ones.
  • With C, waiting too long creates unnecessary stress and reduces the time your group has to actually do the work. This avoids conflict instead of managing it. A strong leader helps people work through disagreements in the moment, not just put them off.

Takeaway: Strong leaders build trust and better outcomes by listening first, not by rushing to decide.