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When Consensus Is the Answer

Studies and experience have demonstrated time and time again that consensus decisions are almost always the best and highest quality decisions; they often produce the best outcomes.

This is based on what we know about people’s behaviors and motivations. If they are involved in the decision process, they are invested in its result. Behaviorally, they recognize they are at least partly responsible for the success of the decision’s outcome.

People work harder and more energetically to execute an idea or decision they had a role in making, and this almost always results in significantly improved outcomes.

Use consensus decision making when you have plenty of time to create the decision, and when you have a clearly identifiable and cohesive group of people to participate in the process. Use consensus decision making when quality is more important than time. Quite frankly, this should be most of the time.