Consensus Can Kill Your Company
Most people would say that consensus is a wonderful thing. When everyone agrees, there will be no battles and the project will go on without a hitch, right? Unfortunately, no.
In his book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni says, “Consensus is horrible. I mean, if everyone really agrees on something and consensus comes about quickly and naturally, well that’s terrific. But that isn’t how it usually works, and so consensus becomes an attempt to please everyone.”
It was clear that he was anxious. He wanted to do the right thing for the team and the business, and he didn’t want any elephants in the room.
In almost all small businesses, owners have dual roles in their companies. Sometimes many more. This can be problematic. It’s like the kid who owned the basketball in a pickup game who, if they didn’t get their way, could always resort to “it’s my ball and if we don’t do it my way I am going home.”
