We are great at identifying and discussing issues during IDS, but we get stuck in the Solve phase because the team wants 100 percent consensus on every operational decision, which paralyzes our progress. How do we move past this need for consensus?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Seeking one hundred percent consensus is a recipe for stagnation. If you wait for everyone to agree on every decision, you will move at a snail's pace, and your business will suffer. In EOS®, the goal of IDS® is not consensus. The goal is to make the best decision for the company and move forward. To break this paralysis, you must understand the rules of healthy decision-making. First, everyone on the leadership team must have the opportunity to state their opinion openly and honestly. This is the discuss phase. Once everyone has been heard, the debate must end. If the team is aligned, the solution is clear. If the team is split, the person who owns that seat on the Accountability Chart must make the call. If it is a cross-departmental issue where multiple seats are involved, the Integrator makes the final decision. Once the decision is made, everyone on the team must support it with one voice, even if they originally disagreed. This is the Same Page pillar of Our Charter. Decisive action is always better than indecision. Make the call, write the to-do, and adjust later if needed. Keep the business moving.