Leading a Group to Consensus
As leaders, we are responsible for making decisions daily. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), we don’t make our decisions alone. Over time, most of us have learned that the best decisions involve input from others. We’ve also learned that getting others involved takes more time than making the decision on our own. And, time is something none of us has in excess. So, gaining confidence and skills in the art of leading a group to consensus will ultimately save time, plus enhance your reputation as an effective decision maker.
Our experience has proven that the best way to reach a collective decision is by leading the group to consensus. When consensus isn’t used and management dictates the decision without employee input, people feel “talked at” rather than “talked to” and may even feel manipulated. If we involve people to a point, but ultimately vote to determine our course of action, we’ll end up with winners and losers. The losers will find it difficult to get excited about an action they did not vote for. Consensus, however, allows us to ultimately end up with a decision that can be supported by the entire group. While participants may conclude that the final decision is not their personal favorite, they agree that they can support the decision for the good of the organization.
Following these seven tips can help you effectively lead a diverse group of participants to consensus:
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Allow Enough Time. Reaching decisions by consensus is initially a time-consuming process. However, when enough time is taken so all participants have an opportunity to question and express concerns, the group’s decision will usually be more final than a management-mandated decision or a decision made by vote. While initially more time-consuming, you ultimately save time by not having to revisit the decision again and again to make changes.
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Don’t Interrupt. Simply put, interrupting is rude. As a meeting facilitator, ensure that participants do not interrupt one another. Participants who are interrupted tend to shut down and may become non-participants. If someone is rambling, you can help by waiting for a pause and then quickly summarizing the speaker’s main ideas. For example, “So, Marianne, it sounds like you are particularly interested in making two specific changes to our workflow process. They are…”
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Encourage Listening. Most of us are poorly trained listeners. Rather than focusing on listening to others, we begin organizing our own thoughts on the topic and wait for the right moment to express them. As a facilitator, help participants summarize their key ideas. “I think what Martin has to say may have some real merit. Martin, would you mind quickly summarizing your three major points?” Or, if people are talking at the same time, you might consider saying, “Wow! I sense some excitement here. Let’s make sure that we each have an opportunity to express our thoughts without interruption. Let’s start with Mary, then…”
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Look for Alternatives. When the group gets stuck, look for viable alternatives. Stimulate the discussion by asking questions such as, “Is it possible that we might consider…?” Or, “What if we tabled this topic for the moment and moved on to another issue? But, we’ll revisit this current topic before we conclude the meeting. We may have more information or ideas by then.”
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Accept Differences. If you are leading a group to consensus, we can promise you that there will be differences of opinion before reaching a decision everyone can accept. Opposition, or differing opinions, are good. If we always do what we’ve always done, we’ll always get what we’ve always had. Learn to accept challenging viewpoints as part of a productive process that will ultimately lead the group to a good, well-supported decision.
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Check for Support. We know by experience that most decisions are made in the last twenty percent of the planned meeting time. Whether you plan to meet for days, or only hours, decisions will typically be reached in the final portion of the meeting. Before adjourning the meeting, check for support. Ask questions like, “Is there any part of this decision that you cannot support?” “Is there anything else you feel needs further consideration?” Make sure that all participants can live with and support the decision, even if they’re not excited by it.
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Follow-Up to Ensure Implementation. Once the decision has been made, it is important for people to commit to taking the actions they have agreed upon. It is also beneficial to schedule a follow-up date where group members can return and report on the progress of their actions.
Generally, groups come to consensus through meetings. While no one likes meetings, they are a reality of organizational life! Use the tips listed above to confidently lead efficient and productive decision-making meetings, meetings where people leave saying, “We really accomplished a lot today! That was a good use of my time.”
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Filed Under: Communication, Leadership, Peter's Blog on April 23rd, 2010
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