{"id":23382,"date":"2019-11-27T06:05:59","date_gmt":"2019-11-27T12:05:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/corevalues.com\/?p=23382"},"modified":"2019-11-27T06:05:59","modified_gmt":"2019-11-27T12:05:59","slug":"consensus-decision-making-yay-or-nay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/corevalues.com\/dev\/2019\/11\/27\/consensus-decision-making-yay-or-nay\/","title":{"rendered":"Consensus Decision Making – Yay or Nay?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"communication<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>The year I had Mrs. Matson for homeroom is the year I\u2019ll never forget. As a class we needed to make a decision and this was my first blush with consensus decision making.<\/p>\n

Actually, it was a year of a lot of firsts.\u00a0 Most important, it was a year I felt I had a \u201csay\u201d with decisions.<\/p>\n

Take for instance that long-drawn-out battle naming the class turtle.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I so desperately wanted to name him Oscar, but 8 other ten-year-olds had ideas of their own.\u00a0 And none of us wanted to back down.<\/p>\n

Mrs. Mattson didn\u2019t take this lightly (though I could imagine how insignificant this can seem to a grown-up).\u00a0 She took the pains to have everyone explain why they wanted such and such a name (and at one point, had to quell a brewing fistfight over it!).<\/p>\n

But such are ten-year olds.<\/p>\n

Surprisingly, a scenario such as this isn\u2019t uncommon in many organizations.\u00a0 Decision making is hardly black and white.\u00a0 Which is why a good number of vibrant organizations opt for consensus decision making.\u00a0<\/u><\/p>\n

What is Consensus Decision Making?<\/h4>\n

Consensus decision making is a dynamic way of reaching an agreement among members of a group.\u00a0 Instead of conducting polls and having the majority get their way, a group is formed and assigned to find a solution that everyone will actively support.<\/p>\n

\u2026 or at least live with.<\/p>\n

The idea behind a consensus is not for everyone to agree. Instead, the goal is to have nobody vehemently oppose.<\/p>\n

In an environment where many of us have little control over our lives (decisions being made for us by our superiors, parents, persons of authority, politicians\u2026), consensus decision making gives a little of that power back.\u00a0 It shortens the distances between hierarchies and replaces it with \u201cshared\u201d power.<\/p>\n

In effect, it gives us not just independence, but interdependence as well.\u00a0 Team members learn to value cooperation, and respect for everyone\u2019s opinions and needs.<\/p>\n

Pros of Consensus Decision Making<\/h4>\n