Consensus means reaching a decision that everyone in a group can support. So, if you're looking for the meaning of consensus, it essentially describes a way of reaching agreement together rather than simply choosing whichever option receives the most votes.

It sounds ideal, but reaching consensus in a meeting isn't always easy. Everyone has an opinion, arguments go back and forth, and before you know it, the meeting is over without a clear decision.

So how do you prevent endless discussions? In this article, we'll explain what consensus means, how it differs from consent and unanimity, and how to reach a supported decision step by step during a meeting. 

Not every decision needs to be made in the same way. Sometimes consensus is important, while in other situations a majority vote is far more efficient. Consent decision-making is another method that is increasingly used by teams and organisations.

The main difference lies in the question you ask the group. 

Consensus: can we all support this?

With consensus decision-making, the group works towards a decision everyone can support.

This usually requires discussion, sharing different perspectives and adjusting a proposal until it becomes acceptable to the group as a whole.

Consensus is particularly useful when support will be important later on. Think of a new way of working together, a strategic decision or a change that affects the entire team.

Consent: are there any serious objections?

With the consent method, everyone doesn't have to believe that a proposal is the absolute best solution.

Instead, the central question is: does anyone have a reasoned, serious objection to this proposal?

If not, the decision can move forward.

Someone might think: "I would have done it differently, but I don't see a good reason why we shouldn't try this."

Consent decision-making can therefore be quicker than consensus. You're not searching for complete agreement on the best possible solution. You're looking for a proposal that is good enough and safe enough to try.

Majority decision: which option receives enough votes?

With majority decision-making, the group votes. The option that receives the required number of votes according to the agreed voting rule is selected.

It's clear and often quick, but there's a disadvantage. A significant part of the group may disagree with the decision and still be expected to implement it.

For decisions with relatively little impact, that may not be a problem. But when successful implementation depends on the whole team, creating broader support can be more important than making the decision as quickly as possible. 

Consensus
The group looks for a decision everyone can support.

Consent
The decision moves forward when there are no serious, reasoned objections.

Majority
The option that receives enough votes is selected. 

Understanding what consensus means is one thing. Actually reaching it during a meeting is another.

Especially when different interests are involved, consensus rarely happens automatically. A clear process helps prevent the same arguments from being repeated and keeps the discussion moving towards a decision.

Step 1. Define a clear question in advance

Consensus starts with the agenda.

"Discuss marketing plan" isn't a clear decision-making question. "Which three marketing activities should we prioritise next quarter?" gives the group much more direction.

Make it clear beforehand what needs to be decided by the end of the agenda item. This prevents participants from having several different discussions without anyone being entirely sure what they're supposed to decide.

Step 2. Start by building a shared understanding

Before everyone starts sharing opinions, make sure the group understands the issue.

What information do we have? What's the problem? What are the constraints? What don't we know yet?

Give participants an opportunity to ask questions and gather information before they start defending possible solutions.

This prevents the meeting from turning into a debate between opposing sides too early in the process.

Step 3. Explore different perspectives

Once everyone has a similar understanding of the situation, you can start discussing different perspectives.

What does each person consider important? What opportunities do people see? What are their concerns? Which interests need to be considered?

Going around the table and giving everyone a turn can work particularly well here. In groups where a few people naturally dominate the conversation, a structured round ensures quieter participants have the opportunity to contribute too.

Step 4. Create a concrete proposal

Based on the available information and the different perspectives, formulate a proposal.

Make it as specific as possible.

Not: "We should work together at the office more often."

Instead: "Starting next month, Tuesday will be our shared office day, and we'll evaluate the arrangement after six weeks."

The more specific the proposal, the easier it becomes to determine whether everyone can move forward with it.

Step 5. Actively ask for objections

Don't simply ask: "Does everyone agree?"

In a group, that question can easily be met with silence. People may not want to slow down the meeting or may assume their concern isn't important enough to raise.

Instead, explicitly ask whether there are any remaining concerns or objections.

You could go around the table and ask each participant to briefly indicate whether there's anything that still needs to be discussed before the decision can be made.

An objection doesn't necessarily mean the end of a proposal. It provides information that can help make the proposal stronger.

Step 6. Adjust the proposal where necessary

If a relevant objection comes up, determine what needs to change to address it without starting the entire discussion again.

Perhaps an additional condition is needed. Maybe a deadline should be adjusted. Or the objection might reveal that important information is still missing.

By doing this, you gradually work towards a proposal that is workable for the group as a whole.

Step 7. Make a final check and record the decision

Finish with a clear final check.

Can everyone move forward with this proposal? Or, if you're using consent: are there any remaining serious objections?

Then immediately record what has been decided, who is responsible for the next step and when it needs to happen.

That final step is often forgotten in meetings. A productive discussion without an owner or deadline may feel like consensus, but it still doesn't create action.  

Consensus isn't automatically the best decision-making method for every meeting.

It's particularly valuable for decisions that have a significant impact on the team and where you'll need people's support during implementation.

Examples include:

• setting shared priorities;

• changing the way a team works together;

• choosing a new strategy or direction;

• making agreements that affect the entire team;

• important decisions during an offsite or strategy day.

For these types of decisions, spending more time creating support can save time later. A decision nobody truly supports can create far more delays during implementation.

Consensus also has its pitfalls.

If every small decision needs the support of the entire group, meetings quickly become unnecessarily long. False consensus can also occur: nobody speaks up, so it appears everyone agrees even though there is still resistance.

Groupthink is another risk. When the desire to agree becomes too strong, critical perspectives can disappear.

That's why it's important to choose the right decision-making method beforehand.

Does everyone genuinely need to be able to support the decision? Consensus may be appropriate.

Is it important to take objections seriously, but unnecessary for everyone to share the same preference? Consent may be the smarter choice.

Is it a relatively straightforward decision where speed matters more than broad support? A majority decision may be enough.

Not every agenda item requires the same approach.

An important decision on the agenda? 

Some conversations deserve more attention than you can give them between everyday tasks.

When an important decision is on the agenda, deliberately creating time and space for the conversation can make all the difference. At Meet Tuesday, you can meet in a private meeting room where your team can focus, make ideas visible and work towards a supported decision without unnecessary distractions.

Whether you're planning a regular team meeting, an offsite or a full strategy day, choose a room that fits the size of your group and the way you want to work.