SuperadditiveThe Decider

Method 06 of 08

Consent

No one has a serious objection.

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What it means

Consensus asks: “Can everyone agree?”

Consent asks: “Is there any reason we should not try this?”

A proposal moves forward when nobody can identify a meaningful objection showing it would harm the team or prevent it from achieving its purpose.

The proposal does not have to be perfect. It has to be safe enough to try.

Best when

  • You need broad participation but don't have time for consensus.
  • A proposal already exists.
  • The decision can be changed later.
  • Learning through action is possible.
  • Affected people possess useful information.

Watch out for

  • Treating every preference as an objection.
  • Moving so quickly that people suppress concerns.
  • Using consent for irreversible decisions.
  • Letting discussion drift back into consensus.
  • Confusing “safe enough” with careless.

How it works

  1. State the proposal.
  2. Clarifying questions.
  3. Reaction round.
  4. Revise.
  5. Harvest objections.
  6. Test objections.
  7. Integrate valid objections.
  8. Ratify.
  9. Establish a review point.

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Common traps

“I don't like it” becomes a veto.
Preference is not necessarily an objection.
People stay quiet because they don't want to slow things down.
Explicitly ask for objections.
The method feels unnaturally formal.
Use the structure until people understand it.
Temporary decisions quietly become permanent.
Set a review date.

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