Building consensus is difficult! It is hard because...

Building consensus is difficult! It is hard because we all come from different places, backgrounds, and experiences, and it may seem like a consensus has been reached when key details have been overlooked. For example, an agreement over what to build may not include details about how a specific piece of that system works. The solution for that detail that gets built could very easily not be what was expected, leading to conflict and wasted time. When reaching a consensus, make sure to explore all potentially relevant details and ensure your partners do the same from their perspective. This latter point is critical since it is impossible to know what is important to others fully. Put yourself in their shoes as much as possible and think through potential concerns, but they must share their perspective directly to ensure nothing gets missed at the end of the day. Use empathy to open the door for them to share. Through diverse perspectives being shared openly, rigorous consensus can be built, and durable solutions take shape! #bendevtip

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Original post on LinkedIn