Consensus is achieved when everyone can actively support the emerging decision, even if it might not be their top choice. Building consensus takes more time than a win-lose approach like voting, but it can save time in the end because it minimizes future conflicts, aligns efforts, and gets everyone working toward a common goal.
Video Series:
1. What is consensus decision making? (1:53 min.)
2. How to do consensus decision making (2:48 min.)
3. Making consensus genuinely democratic (1:38 min.)
Step by step:
1. Clarify the options: In a meeting to make a decision, consensus building often begins with a number of options on the table. Start by clarifying these and making sure everyone understands.
2. Discuss: Have an open conversation in the group to ensure understanding, identify pros and cons of the various options, and so on. Having several key criteria that can be used to evaluate each option is a great way to keep everyone on track. (See decision matrix below for more about using criteria.)
3. See where people stand: Watch to see where the group is leaning in terms of a decision. Sometimes a consensus emerges quickly. Other times, there's a difference of opinion that calls for further discussion.
4. Talk further as needed and adjust: When disagreements come up, clearly identify what the group does agree on, then guide the group in talking through their differing points. Getting to consensus might call for tweaking the preferred decision a bit, or more significantly revising the decision – or finding another way forward that works for everyone.
5. Finalize agreement: Summarize the agreed-upon decision. Confirm that everyone understands and commits to supporting the chosen course of action. Then move on – don't reopen and re-process the conversation.