What is Consensus?

People often balk at the notion of consensus-based processes and decision-making. In my opinion, what the naysayers usually fail to realize is:

Consensus does not require that every person participate in every decision. Often consensus means agreeing to trust a single person to make a decision.
Consensus doesn't always have to apply to a decision. Sometimes it's enough to gain consensus for a process to come to the decision.
Consensus doesn't always require agreement. Sometimes it's enough for a participant to merely go along with a decision with the understanding that the group will learn from the consequences.

Above all, consensus requires creativity and leadership.

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